A large number of electric bikes have been seized across a major region for failing to meet UK regulations, with police warning of more enforcement to come.
Nottinghamshire Police revealed that it will now begin seizing and destroying e-bikes as part of a new crackdown by officers to target the vehicles.
More than 100 bikes have already been seized this year by police who have been determined to remove the "potentially dangerous" machines from the streets.
The police announced it would destroy all vehicles that are not reclaimed by riders and drivers as part of stricter deterrents.
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|The police warned that bikes illegally modified will face the same punishment as drivers of cars
Inspector Simon Allen, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "Many people will have seen the types of machines we are talking about whizzing around their communities at dangerously high speeds.
"Most of these are not actually bikes at all - they are motorcycles operating completely independently of any pedal power and travelling far in excess of the 15mph the law allows."
He explained that anyone caught riding the bikes illegally will see them seized by the police, who plan to "destroy their bikes as quickly as possible".
Officers have the legal power to seize anything that is not classed as an electrically assisted pedal cycle under the law.
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E-bikes will face tougher rules under the new measures
That means that any vehicle without pedals capable of propelling can be seized, as well as any vehicle with a battery-powered output of more than 250 watts.
Other illegal bikes breaking the law and can be seized by police include any that can be propelled by electrical assistance above 15.5mph.
"Any bike that does not meet these standards will need to be registered, taxed and insured as a motor vehicle, and the rider will need an appropriate driving licence and a helmet to ride legally," the police warned.
The police also outlined how any offences that are committed on e-bikes, ranging from dangerous driving to driving under the influence, will also be prosecuted "in exactly the same way as they would be for any other motorists".
Allen warned that these bikes are a "menace to the public" and pose a significant risk to riders, pedestrians and other road users.
"That's because many of these machines, particularly those that have been modified, were simply not designed to travel at the speeds they were travelling at," he said.
He explained that the tyres, brakes and suspension on the bikes "can’t cope with the forces they are subjected to", with riders "simply not equipped" with the skills or safety gear needed to ride them safely.
The force also stated that there have been more deaths and serious injuries associated with e-bikes as a result of the modification, with the police taking a more "robust action" to permanently remove them from roads.
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE POLICE
|Police have the power to seize and destroy e-bikes caught breaking the road rules
Under UK law, riders of illegal electric bikes could be prosecuted for a wide range of offences, including the illegal use of an electric bike on the road and illegal carriage of a passenger.
Riders can also be charged with driving with no Insurance, with no MOT, riding without a helmet, speeding as well as not displaying a registration mark, all of which are required.
Allen shared: "So if you are thinking of buying one of these bikes for your children, please think again.
"At best, they will be breaking the law and at worst, they could cause themselves or others very serious harm. You can also expect to have that bike seized and destroyed by the police."