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I wanted to provide you with an update regarding Anti-social behaviour – general, which people around your area have highlighted as an issue of concern on the priority survey. Illegal scooters and electric bikes.
What is an e-scooter?
Electrical scooters (also known as e-scooters) come under the category of 'powered transporters'. This covers a range of personal transport devices that are powered by a motor.
E-scooters and unregistered e-motorbikes are classed as motor vehicles under the Road Traffic Act 1988. This means the rules that apply to motor vehicles, also apply to e-scooters including the need to have a licence and insurance.
There are two ways of using an e-scooter:
· by privately owning one
· by renting one through an authorised rental scheme
Owning your own e-scooter
It's not currently possible to get insurance for privately owned e-scooters. This means it’s illegal to use them on the road or in public spaces, such as parks, street pavements, and shopping centres.
If you use a privately-owned e-scooter in public, you risk the vehicle being seized under S.165 Road Traffic Act 1988 for having no insurance.
If you cause serious harm to another person whilst riding an e-scooter/e-motorbike, the incident will be investigated in the same way it would if you were riding a motorcycle or driving a car.
Where you can use your own e-scooter
If you own an e-scooter, you can only use it in on private land, such as in a garden. But you must have the permission of the landowner to do so.
Rental e-scooters
You can rent e-scooters in some parts of the UK through e-scooter rental trials.
Where a rental trial scheme is running, rental e-scooters can be used on public roads, some cycle lanes, and other public spaces. But you must follow the relevant road traffic laws. If you don’t, you could face prosecution.
To use a rental e-scooter in an approved area you must:
· hold the correct driving licence (find out about driving licence categories)
· have insurance (the rental companies provide this when you hire from them)
· meet the minimum age limit (this can vary depending on the rental company, so please check with them)
When riding an e-scooter, you should always keep to the speed limit. We also always recommend wearing safety protection such as a helmet.
Penalties and offences for e-scooters
If you breach the rules when using an e-scooter/e-motorbike you could face a fixed penalty notice, the seizure of your e-scooter/e-motorbike and its disposal.
Forces set and enforce penalties differently, so the penalty will vary depending on where the offence is committed.
For example, Devon and Cornwall police will not issue fines, so other forms of penalty will be used if you use an e-scooter in a public place when not part of an approved trial.
For other forces in the UK, the fixed penalty notice could include:
· a £300 fine and six penalty points on your licence for having no insurance
· a £100 fine and three to six penalty points for riding without the correct licence
You could also be committing an offence if you're caught:
· riding on a pavement: fixed penalty notice and possible £50 fine
· using a mobile phone or other handheld mobile device while riding: £200 and six penalty points
· riding through red lights: fixed penalty notice, £100 fine and possible penalty points
· drink driving: the same as if you were driving a car, you could face court imposed fines, a driving ban and possible imprisonment
If you're using an e-scooter/e-motorbike in public in an antisocial manner, you can also risk the e-scooter/e-motorbike being seized under section 59 of the Police Reform Act.
Electric bikes and rules for riding them
You can ride an electric bike, or an 'electrically assisted pedal cycle' (EAPC), without a license or insurance if you're 14 or over.
An electric bike:
· must have pedals that you can use to propel it
· can have more than two wheels, for example a tricycle
· must have an electric motor that can run continuously at a maximum power of no more than 250 watts
· must have no electrical assistance once you reach 15.5 miles per hour (mph)
If your electric bike fails to meet any of these requirements it needs to be taxed and insured as either a motorcycle or a moped.
There is more information on what's required to ride your electric bike legally on GOV.UK.
 Tackling antisocial behaviour can be a complex issue, and one which requires input and action from more than just the police. The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 aims to put victims first, giving power to local people and enabling professionals to find the best solutions for their local area. The act provides the police, local authorities and other local agencies with flexible tools and powers that they can use to respond quickly and effectively to antisocial behaviour. These include: civil injunctions. criminal behaviour orders. public spaces protection orders. community protection notices. dispersal powers. closure powers. ASB Case review
Anti-social behaviour covers a wide range of unacceptable activity that causes harm to an individual, to their community or to their environment. This could be an action by someone else that leaves you feeling alarmed, harassed, or distressed. It also includes fear of crime or concern for public safety, public disorder, or public nuisance. Examples of anti-social behaviour include: · Nuisance, rowdy or inconsiderate neighbours · Vandalism, graffiti, and flyposting · Street drinking · Environmental damage including littering, dumping of rubbish and abandonment of cars · Prostitution related activity · Fireworks misuse · Inconsiderate or inappropriate use of vehicles If you ever experience this issue or have information regarding an incident, please report it using our online reporting tools at https://www.south-wales.police.uk, speak to an operator in our Force Communications Room via our online web chat or call the non-emergency number 101. Alternatively, you can stay 100 per cent anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form at crimestoppers-uk.org. Get Involved Please consider getting involved by registering for these messages, this will enable you to contribute to the local priority survey. We may be unaware of issues that you would like us to focus on. Take a few minutes to securely and privately register and have your say using the button below, this will mean we can focus on things that matter to you. 
Please click here to complete the survey
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