Operation Reclaim: Officers seize six illegal e-bikes near Old Market Square

Officers on patrol near Old Market Square seized six illegal e-bikes in one day as part of a clampdown on youth anti-social behaviour.

Operation Reclaim is a partnership approach to tackling the major issues affecting the city centre which are deterring some people from visiting.

This includes youth anti-social behaviour and illegal e-bikes.

Officers carried out foot patrols in and around Old Market Square including Angel Row on Tuesday June 16 where they seized six illegal e-bikes in a matter of hours.

The bikes will not be returned to their owners with warnings issued to each rider. One man was arrested for failing to comply and having no insurance.

Sergeant Cai Kemish, from the City Neighbourhood Policing Team, said:

"Our teams engage with members of the public every day and one of their biggest concerns is illegal e-bikes.

"We know the public are fed up of these bikes and that is why we are carrying out proactive patrols like this.

"Sur-Ron bikes are classified as motorbikes, not bicycles, in the UK and illegal to ride on public roads, pavements, or cycle lanes without full compliance.

"To be road legal, Sur-Rons must be registered with the DVLA, taxed, insured, and fitted with lights and plates, and riders must have the correct license and helmet.

"Due to the speed of these vehicles, they put members of the public at risk of serious harm. They can also be used in criminal activity such as drug dealing.

"They provide criminals with a fast getaway from the city centre and that is why it is imperative we remove these bikes from our streets.

"Hopefully the more bikes we seize, the less likely we will see them."