Eight e-scooters and 5 e-mopeds were seized by police officers and 152 warnings issued during a clampdown on riders using illegal and modified e-bikes in Leicester city centre’s pedestrian areas.

Op Pedalfast has been put in place by Leicestershire Police’s city centre response team to tackle those riding bikes that do not conform to EPAC regulations.

EAPC is the legal term for an e-bike or e-cycle that can be treated the same as a conventional pedal cycle – provided the user is age 14 or over.

EPAC regulations state e-bikes must:

• have a motor with an output of less than 250 watts
• have a motor which is activated by the action of pedalling (not using a throttle)
• display information about the manufacturer of the vehicle, its battery, manufacturer maximum speed and maximum continuous rated power either via a securely fitted plate or be visibly and durably marked with the required details

If an e-bike does not conform to these regulations it is an electrically powered moped/motorcycle and therefore must be ridden in line with the same laws you would have to follow if you rode a petrol powered moped/motorcycle – so have a numberplate and the rider must wear a helmet and have the appropriate licence.

Rules for e-scooters are they are only allowed to be ridden on private land with the landowner’s permission.

When found to be illegal (not conforming to EPAC regulations), riders are issued a warning by police. The warning is logged on force systems so that if riders are stopped a second time officers could seize the vehicle.

City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “We know that e-bike riders going dangerously fast on pedestrianised streets can have a significant impact on people’s enjoyment of the city centre. By working closely with the police and other partners to tackle persistent issues like this, we can help ensure that the city centre is a safe and welcoming place that everyone can enjoy.

“It’s unacceptable that the behaviour of a few individuals should spoil the city centre for the rest of us.

“That’s why I’m also now proposing to cover the city centre with a Public Spaces Protection Order and invest more resources into addressing these kinds of persistent nuisances.”