E-scooters and e-bikes seized in crackdown

Police have seized a number of privately owned e-scooters and electric bikes in an operation in Nottingham city centre.

Nottinghamshire Police said officers confiscated 10 of them while stopping riders in the Trinity Square and Lace Market areas on Monday.

Batteries or motors were removed from three other vehicles during the three-hour crackdown, the force said.

Riding e-scooters in public places is illegal unless they are hired as part of a government-approved scheme.

Electric bicycles are legal to use across the country, but must not exceed an output of 250 watts or travel faster than 15.5mph (24.9kph).

The force said it carried out the operation in response to concerns raised by the public.

PC Adam Abid, of the Nottingham City Centre neighbourhood team, said: "These devices may be a convenient way for people to get around, but they can also pose a significant risk to other road users, pedestrians and to the riders themselves.

"Recently we have received a significant number of reports of people having to take evasive action and jump out of the way of these devices as they have been speeding through pedestrianised areas.

"That is clearly not acceptable and not something we as the police can ignore."

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