Police Seize Nearly 100 Illegal E-Bikes, Scooters in Lancashire Crackdown

Police in Preston and across Lancashire have conducted a significant crackdown on illegal and uninsured e-bikes, scooters, and off-road vehicles, seizing nearly 100 such vehicles within a week as part of Operation Centurion. The operation targeted nuisance riding and dangerous vehicle use in hotspot areas including Preston City Centre, Plungington, Ashton, Ribbleton, and Blackpool, with many vehicles seized for lacking insurance or licenses and destined to be crushed. The enforcement efforts were supported by Lancashire Constabulary's new fleet of specialist police motorcycles designed to access areas difficult for standard vehicles to patrol. Authorities emphasized that illegal and modified e-bike use poses serious safety risks, and the crackdown responds to local community concerns about anti-social behavior and dangerous riding. Similar concerns and enforcement actions are reported in New South Wales, Australia, where authorities are addressing illegally modified e-bikes following fatalities and injuries, with new laws under development to regulate their use. Police urge riders and parents to comply with regulations to prevent accidents and enhance public safety.