BASILDON Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) have seized 36 e-scooters and e-bikes in just two weeks as part of a crackdown on people riding through the town centre.

The centre of Basildon is covered by a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) that prohibits e-scooter, e-bike, and pedal bike use.

It is only legal to use to an e-scooter on private land or to hire one in a town that is part of a government-regulated trial. 

Basildon was formerly a trial location, but the council voted to abandon the scheme earlier this year. The scooters for hire were removed during the summer.

Sergeant Emily Pentelow of Basildon NPT said her team have given people plenty of warning that e-scooters and e-bikes will be seized if ridden in the town:

“People riding e-scooters and e-bikes dangerously is one of the biggest issues the public highlight to our team.

“It’s intimidating, it’s dangerous and nobody walking in a pedestrianised area should have to watch out for people flying past, putting everyone at risk of serious injury.

“We’ve tried to educate people, and we’ve put posters in shops to make it clear that riding through town is illegal but the number of seizures we’ve made clearly shows that the message hasn’t registered and that a change of approach was necessary.

“If you are caught riding an e-scooter or e-bike in town, we will take it, and it will be scrapped. We’re working with the council’s community safety officers and using the TownLink system to track offenders down and stop them, so even if our officers don’t spot you, someone else will.

“The feedback from the public and retailers has been really positive. The town centre is a much safer place without the e-scooters and e-bikes and my team will continue to apprehend anyone we see on one.”