Dozens of e-scooters crushed by police in crackdown campaign

As previously reported, officers in Hampshire now have the power to crush e-scooters and off-road e-motorcycles that are used to commit crimes.

In February, the force launched its Operation Crush campaign vowing to crackdown on the vehicles being used illegally.

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(Image: Newsquest) Inspector Andy Tester told the Gazette at the launch that the new approach aimed to tackle crime, antisocial behaviour and dangerous riding on electric power two-wheeled vehicles including electric motorbikes, modified e-bikes and e-scooters.

He said: “We are trying to influence behaviour, we are trying to get people to stop using these vehicles for these sorts of offences by saying as well as being prosecuted for any offences we come across along the way, we are also going to seize and destroy the vehicles you do it on.

"So hopefully it will act as a deterrent for people carrying out these kind of offences."

He told the Gazette that crime enabled by such vehicles is on the increase nationally.

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The campaign is targeting those illegally using two-wheeled vehicles to commit further crimes, those persistently involved in anti-social behaviour, and those putting themselves or other road users at risk of injury.

In an update following the launch of the campaign in February, Hampshire Constabulary said in the first three months, 40 vehicles have been seized by officers.

A statement from police said: “These are all vehicles that were not road legal and thanks to this initiative these vehicles will now be destroyed instead of returning to the hands of those who have used them illegally.”

E-vehicles are illegal to use in public places. However, Hampshire Constabulary said it has seen a steady increase in the popularity of these vehicles including e-scooters and off-road electric motorcycles, resulting in more being used in crime or used dangerously, potentially putting lives at risk.

In response, Hampshire Constabulary took action to enhance its powers, using existing legislation that gives police the option to destroy any e-scooter or e-motorcycle that is being used in crime.

Inspector Tester said: “We hope that this action shows our communities that we have listened to their concerns about the rising use of these e-scooters and e-motorcycles being ridden dangerously or being used to carry out crime and anti-social behaviour.

“We believe that this change in policy will help clamp down on those committing numerous offences with these vehicles and act as a significant deterrent.”