City of London Police cycling team seizes more than 800 illegal e-bikes in three years as leading cycling news outlet joins patrol
Posted on in Business News , Cycles News
The City of London Police’s dedicated Cycling Team has seized more than 800 non-compliant e-bikes and e-motorbikes since launching in 2023, with the specialist unit adapting its tactics as illegal machines become increasingly sophisticated, according to a new article from leading outlet Cycling Electric.
Editor Mark Sutton joined the ten-person team on patrol in the Square Mile, where officers can identify potentially illegal machines within seconds and test them at the roadside without the specialist equipment used by some other forces.
The team focuses initially on whether a bike is providing assistance without sufficient pedalling, with officers checking throttles, hidden buttons and other modifications that can turn an apparently compliant e-bike into an illegal motor vehicle.
Sutton argues that the machines being targeted should not be confused with conventional e-bikes, writing: “The bikes they pull, however, are not those of cyclists. These are not the sort of bike you're going to go to your local reputable bike shop and buy. These are generally online purchases.”
The scale of the operation was highlighted during Sutton’s visit, with officers seizing five non-compliant bikes in around 90 minutes around Ludgate Circus, while the team says it now sees a roughly 50:50 split between commuters and delivery riders among those using illegal machines.
Sgt Stuart Ford said the team takes a pragmatic approach where riders appear unaware their bike is illegal, but repeat offenders can face prosecution, fines and points on their driving licence.
Sutton also highlighted how the problem extends beyond the City of London, where dedicated cycling police teams are not present and illegal e-motorbikes are becoming harder to distinguish from legitimate electric cycles.
“As the [illegal] industry’s grown sadly, we’ve grown with it,” said Sgt Ford, describing how the team continually updates its knowledge as manufacturers and riders change tactics.
The City of London team is also sharing its knowledge with other forces, with Sgt Ford due to take the new Cytech course on e-bike policing and offering his assistance to forces that might still be catching up with the technology.
The article comes after the recent launch of the E-Bike Positive trust mark, run in collaboration between the ACT and the Bicycle Association, which aims to help consumers identify legitimate, compliant e-bikes and distinguish them from illegal electric motorcycles.
Only approved E-bike Positive retailers can display the Trust Mark. If you haven’t signed up yet, join the growing network of retailers and brands committed to best practice, trusted products and safer e-bike retailing across the UK. View the retailer commitment and sign up by clicking here.