E-bike warning after sharp rise in confiscations

Cyclists have been warned about the potentially "disastrous" consequences of riding illegally modified e-bikes following a steep rise in the number seized by Norfolk Police.

The force said the number of seized e-bikes, many with illegal modifications, rose to 203 last year, up from 45 in 2024 and 24 in 2023.

To be road legal, e-bikes must have pedals and can be propelled no more than 15.5mph (25km/h).

"Being so incredibly high-powered, a collision can have disastrous consequences," said community police inspector Ben Jarvis, who works in King's Lynn.

"Often these bikes are not ridden on the road, they're ridden on the path, they're ridden with no care or consideration for pedestrians nearby."

Jarvis said officers had been working with delivery drivers in the town to make sure their bikes were road legal and to stop them riding in pedestrian areas.

Parents who bought bikes for children often off social media sites did not realise the risk they were taking, he added.

"If you're being asked to buy one of these do check it out because you don't want to be putting anyone you love at risk," said Jarvis.

Matthew Watts, who manages a bike shop in Norwich, said e-bikes accounted for between 25-30% of sales.

He said it was easy when servicing a bike to see that it had been modified.

"If we then come to plug them in to do a software update or a repair, the computer will identify that it's been chipped or modified and will effectively put the bike into limp mode."

Trading Standards officers recently assessed how the shop was maintaining e-bikes.

Watts welcomed the inspection: "There needs to be a crackdown because they're both a potential fire hazard and also a hazard on the road with people not appreciating that the bike coming down the road is doing 30, 40, 50mph."

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