Nottinghamshire County Council councillors have unanimously backed plans for a multi-agency task force to tackle illegal e-bikes and e-scooters.
The motion, approved on Thursday 24 September, calls for borough and district councils, the county council, Nottinghamshire Police and other stakeholders to work together on enforcement and intelligence-sharing.
Calls for clearer enforcement
The council is also calling for ambiguity around police seizure powers to be removed. The motion asks Nottinghamshire Police and the area’s Police and Crime Commissioner to use their full and consistent powers against illegal vehicles, share hotspot data and identify retailers, importers and suppliers of non-compliant products.
It also calls on the council to write to the government to review whether the current penalties and legal framework provide a sufficient deterrent.
Conservative councillor Keith Girling, who introduced the motion, said residents had reported e-bikes and e-scooters being ridden at excessive speeds on pavements, in pedestrian areas, parks and playing fields.
“For some residents, particularly elderly people, people with disabilities and parents with young children, it isn’t simply annoying, it’s intimidation,” he said. “They should not have to worry about being knocked down when walking through their local town.”
The task force proposal was put forward as an amendment by Reform UK councillors Mike Robertson and Richard Darrington. Robertson said police officers could not readily establish at the roadside whether a vehicle complied with the 250-watt power and 15.5mph limits, meaning bikes may need to be stopped and tested before enforcement action could be taken.
“These should be managed exactly like any other motor-powered vehicle,” he said. “If they’re on the public highway, they should be registered, they should be taxed, they should be insured and the operator should be appropriately aged and appropriately licensed as per the DVSA requirements right now – that would stop it in its tracks.”
Seizures under Operation Wrangel
Nottinghamshire Police launched Operation Wrangel in November 2025. The force has since seized more than 60 e-bikes, including one capable of reaching speeds of up to 72mph, according to the council debate.
Girling said: “This is not a bicycle being used in an ordinary sense; this is an illegal motor vehicle capable of travelling at motorway speeds.”
Councillor Neil Clarke called for registration plates to make e-scooters easier to identify, after describing an incident in which one travelled at more than 30mph and mounted a pavement to avoid traffic. Darrington said residents needed a clear way to report illegal use, such as a dedicated telephone number or email address.
Under current UK rules, a privately owned e-bike can be used on public land if it is ridden by someone aged over 14, has working pedals, is limited to motor assistance at 15.5mph and has a continuous rated power output of no more than 250 watts. Such bikes do not need to be registered, taxed or insured.
Privately owned e-scooters are classed as motor vehicles and cannot legally be ridden in public places, including roads, pavements and parks. The council’s debate concerned privately owned illegal vehicles rather than the authorised e-scooter and e-bike schemes operating in Nottingham.
Nottingham City Council permits Dott and Lime to operate a maximum of 1,300 vehicles each in the city. Dott introduced its first e-bikes on 17 July, competing with Lime, which has operated in the city since 2023.