Police crack down on ‘nuisance riding’ by seizing e-scooters and giving cyclists tickets in Northampton town centre

Katie Wheatley
By Katie Wheatley
Published 1st Sep 2023, 12:33 BST
Updated 1st Sep 2023, 12:33 BST
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now
“We know from talking to local people that they want to see us tackling the anti-social behaviour caused by nuisance e-scooter and bicycle riding,” say police

Police have this week seized e-scooters and issued a number of tickets to cyclists, in a bid to crack down on “nuisance riding” in Northampton town centre.

During the operation this week, two e-scooters were seized and 11 tickets were issued to those cycling on footpaths by the Northampton Neighbourhood Policing Team.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The operation took place in Abington Street on Wednesday (August 30) and involved officers stopping people riding Voi e-scooters inappropriately – as well as seizing privately-owned vehicles that cannot legally be ridden on public roads.

The popularity of e-scooters has grown substantially in recent years with people able to hire them in towns and cities across the world, including Northampton.The popularity of e-scooters has grown substantially in recent years with people able to hire them in towns and cities across the world, including Northampton.
The popularity of e-scooters has grown substantially in recent years with people able to hire them in towns and cities across the world, including Northampton.

As scooters are subject to the same legal requirements as other motor vehicles, privately-owned scooters can only be ridden on private land. This excludes public roads, cycle lanes and pavements.

PCSO Dot Wilson-Townsend, from Northampton’s Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “We know from talking to local people that they want to see us tackling the anti-social behaviour caused by nuisance e-scooter and bicycle riding.

“That’s why we carried out this operation and why we will continue to carry out similar action in and around the town centre in the future.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We of course advocate greener ways of travel but only in safe and sensible ways. So please remember – private e-scooters are currently illegal to ride in public and if you choose to ride a Voi e-scooter or a bicycle, do so with care and respect for your surroundings.”