On average there is a e-bike/e-scooter fire in London every other day: those indoors can be fatal

London Fire Brigade recently launched its  ChargeSafe campaign with a milestone  report  to give background. 

Please reply if you would like to support a local awareness exercise. Otherwise read on, take note, and help alert your neighbours.

“On average there’s a fire from a lithium-ion battery in an e-bike or e-scooter every two days in London. Many of these fires happen in homes while batteries are charging.” 

If you or a family member uses an e-bike or scooter or lives in a shared building where these are charged in a communal area (perhaps on your escape route) you are strongly recommended to read E-bikes and e-scooters: Fire safety advice | London Fire Brigade , look at your  Escape plan and Report a serious fire risk to  London Fire Brigade

If you live in rented accommodation, or shared a building you are recommended to check that your landlord and/or their managing agent has an up-to-date fire risk assessment covering meeting the points covered in  Guidance for Responsible Persons: E-bike and e-scooter safety | London Fire Brigade

The risks are greater with regard to e-bikes and scooters which have been altered to go above the limit (15.5 mph) for unlicensed electronic assistance (15.5 mph). These are also illegal unless licensed – see E-bike and e-scooter laws in the UK | London Fire Brigade

The police have been given new powers to “seize vehicles linked to anti-social behaviour and … no longer have to issue a warning before taking nuisance vehicles off the road”. See  Tougher measures targeting antisocial behaviour become law for more details.

These powers can be used to seize illegal e-bikes and scooters being charged in dangerous locations. You can inform your community police team accordingly via your Neighbourhood Watch Group, Safer Neighbourhood Panel or one of their community meetings.

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Post election Update on  Lambeth Voluntary Community Services and networking event on June 4th  

You will have received information on Neighbourhood Watch Week, which coincides with National Volunteering Week. 

Lambeth Council has a new Voluntary and Community Services Sector website linked to new advice and support contracts , These include contacting community groups to progress the postponed review of the Lambeth Emergency Plan and Community Risk Register. 

The agenda for the VCS Networking event on 4th June  is unlikely to be available until after the new council agrees responsibilities but those interested in using the Neighbourhood Watch movement to facilitate cross boundary co-operation with others are encouraged to join me in attending.  Please reply to this notice or e-mail development@lambethNHW.co.uk if you plan to do so, indicating the topics on which you would most like to see co-operation - bearing in mind that, for the foreseeable future, this may have to be self-funding.