Police Deploy Drones to Tackle Illegal E-Bikes and Scooters on the Yorkshire Coast

Humberside Police are utilising a new fleet of drones to safely track down individuals riding illegal e-bikes and e-scooters across the Yorkshire Coast.

Humberside Police have launched targeted aerial operations using state-of-the-art drone technology to crack down on the illegal use of e-bikes and e-scooters along the Yorkshire Coast.

The initiative comes in direct response to growing public safety concerns over the unregulated use of these motorised devices. Officers from the Special Operations Unit are actively deploying the new equipment to monitor hotspots and track riders safely from the sky, avoiding the risks associated with traditional pursuits on the ground.

Superintendent Gary Foster, from Humberside Police's Special Operations Unit, outlined the complexities surrounding the classification of electric cycles. He emphasised the severe dangers posed by their misuse, particularly by young people riding without helmets or protective gear:

"The vast majority are not legal because they're a powered vehicle that should have tax, insurance, etc and be driven by someone competent to drive it or ride it. There are e-bikes that are legal and it depends on the power ratio and the the motor size that powers that electric cycle. We had a drone operation where we were targeting areas where these have been seen most frequently. We had the drone up, the drone will follow the motorcycle or the electric cycle to where it stops and then we'll go and get it, which is the safest way to deal with it. And quite often these are 13, 14, 15 year old kids that are using these. They haven't got protective equipment on and the chances of an accident and them being seriously hurt is really high. So, we are in-between a rock and a hard place."

The force has recently expanded its aerial capabilities significantly, providing officers with advanced tools to safely monitor and apprehend riders who are breaking the law. The investment in technology is seen as a crucial step in managing an issue that has become increasingly prevalent on local streets.

Councillor Leo Hammond, the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Humberside, highlighted a noticeable shift in consumer habits away from traditional mopeds towards more affordable, yet potentially more hazardous, electric alternatives.

He noted that there is a significant push at a national level for the government to introduce comprehensive licensing regulations for these devices. In the meantime, he urged the public to assist local policing teams by reporting specific incidents and providing actionable intelligence.

Councillor Hammond said:

"People used to buy things like mopeds and stuff, they're not anymore. They're buying these scooters, which are much cheaper but equally not licensed and are much more dangerous. So that there is a big push nationally to try and get the government to bring in that proper licensing of these devices. Locally, the police do loads and it's one of the top complaints we get. If members of the public can feedback data to their local policing teams on when and where people are using these scooters, they can fit that into their beat plans and try and tackle it. And now that we've got 16 new drones for the police with 24 pilots, that is going to be a real big help to tracking down these people who are using these scooters illegally."

Authorities are continuing to encourage residents across the Yorkshire Coast to share specific data regarding the times and locations of illegal e-scooter and e-bike usage. By feeding this information directly to local policing teams, officers can effectively integrate the intelligence into their daily beat plans, ensuring that the new fleet of drones is deployed where it is needed most to keep communities safe.