Throughout the summer of 2025, a wave of police crackdowns swept across several UK cities, targeting illegal e-bikes, off-road motorcycles, and e-scooters that have become a growing menace on both streets and public green spaces. From Cardiff to Coventry and Stourport, authorities have ramped up efforts to address rising complaints from residents about antisocial behavior, dangerous riding, and flagrant disregard for the law. Their message is clear: the era of unchecked illegal riding is coming to an end.
In Cardiff, a month-long operation conducted jointly by Cardiff Council and South Wales Police throughout August resulted in the seizure of 135 illegal mechanically propelled vehicles (MPVs), including e-bikes and scooters, from notorious hotspots like Cowbridge Road East in Canton, Albany Road in Roath, and Crwys Road in Cathays. According to BBC News, the fastest vehicle seized during this initiative could reach a staggering 86 mph (138 kph) and had no functioning brakes—a terrifying prospect for pedestrians and other road users alike. Another bike, shockingly ridden by a 15-year-old carrying a pillion passenger, was capable of reaching 70 mph (112 kph).
Dave Sultana, head of Cardiff Council's wardens, described the scale of the problem: “The bikes we’re dealing with here on the highway are the same riders that we’re dealing with on the parkland within the city.” He added, “Some of our biggest complaints are from members of the public who are trying to enjoy the green spaces, but they’re unable to due to this antisocial behaviour.”
The operation’s effectiveness was immediately apparent. “About a dozen illegal e-bikes and scooters were seized in under an hour on Cowbridge Road East, Canton,” Sultana said, highlighting the prevalence of the issue. He stressed the dangers, noting, “They’re clearly dangerous, especially when they’re shooting past you on a busy street like this. Some of them have modifications that are illegal, and they’re illegal for a reason.”
Inspector Tim Ursell of South Wales Police reinforced the urgency of the crackdown: “We’ve seized bikes that can do speeds of between 85 and 90 mph (128 kph to 144 kph). This is a real effort to put resources back on our streets and deal with the stuff people round here tell us is a real problem.”
But the Cardiff operation wasn’t just about removing illegal vehicles. Police also made arrests for possession of weapons and the supply of Class A drugs, underlining the broader criminal context sometimes associated with these activities. Once seized, the illegal bikes are dismantled and scrapped, with batteries carefully removed for recycling to prevent explosions during crushing. Authorities say scrapping is the most effective way to keep these bikes off the road, especially given the sheer numbers involved and the fact that many have power supplies built directly into their frames.
The legal framework for e-bikes is clear, but often misunderstood. According to Department for Transport regulations, e-bikes must have pedals, and their motors should not provide power when traveling above 15.5 mph (25 kph). They are legal to ride without a driving license and do not require registration, tax, or insurance, but any bike exceeding these limits or with a motor output above 250 watts is classed as a motor vehicle and falls under the Road Traffic Act. That means they must meet insurance, tax, and licensing requirements—standards many seized bikes flagrantly ignore.
Meanwhile, in Coventry, West Midlands Police have been running targeted initiatives—Operations Prosperity and Advance—over the past year to combat the scourge of illegal off-road bikes, e-scooters, and modified e-bikes. Earlier in August, Operation Advance led to the seizure of 24 vehicles, including nine off-road bikes. Police say their efforts are guided by public reports, with operations and patrols tailored to intelligence about where and when illegal riding is at its worst.
“Our Coventry teams are continuing their work to tackle dangerous, illegal and anti-social use of off-road bikes in the city,” a West Midlands Police spokesman told BBC News. “Since the operation began last year, we have seized dozens of off-road bikes, e-scooters and similar vehicles which have been used illegally.”
In a bid to encourage community involvement, officers have set up an online portal where residents can upload footage of illegal and dangerous off-road bike usage. The police have managed previous illegal ride-outs and mass gatherings of bikers by conducting risk assessments, balancing the need to protect the public with the imperative to arrest offenders. “Illegal and anti-social use of motorcycles and off-road bikes is a problem we take seriously in Coventry and is factored into our plans for operations and patrols,” the spokesman emphasized.
Despite these successes, authorities acknowledge that the issue is far from resolved. The police continue to urge residents to report illegal activity and submit evidence, recognizing that sustained community engagement is vital to keeping the pressure on offenders. “We know the issue won’t just go away,” the spokesman admitted, “and have asked concerned residents to keep reporting their concerns.”
Elsewhere, in Stourport, the problem has also been met with robust enforcement. On August 31, 2025, officers from the Stourport Safer Neighbourhood Team, supported by other units, patrolled the town centre and Walshes estate in search of illegal e-bikes and off-road motorcycles. During their morning patrol, a call from a member of the public led them to Memorial Park, where a young man was reportedly “doing laps” on an off-road bike, revving the engine behind a woman while children played football nearby. Police approached the man from different sides of the park and detained him, despite his attempt to flee. The 18-year-old’s ‘pit bike’ off-roader was seized, and he was issued a Traffic Offence Report for no insurance and driving outside the terms of his license. He also received a Section 59 notice for antisocial riding and was dealt with for possession of a small amount of cannabis.
Section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002 allows officers to issue warnings and seize vehicles used in a manner causing alarm, distress, or annoyance to the public. Police Sergeant Matt Ling of Stourport SNT commented, “We will continue with these patrols as we work together with our communities to try and prevent those using e-bikes and off-road bikes illegally and in an antisocial manner.”
Across the country, the tide appears to be turning against illegal and dangerous e-bike and off-road bike use. With police operations growing in scale and sophistication—and with the public increasingly engaged in reporting offenders—authorities are hopeful that the lawless days of high-speed, unregistered vehicles menacing parks and streets may soon be a thing of the past.
