Met Police seize 2,367 illegal e-bikes in year as powers expand
New law lets officers confiscate modified machines without warning in Barnet and across London
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Metropolitan Police seized 2,367 illegal e-bikes in the 12 months to 19 May 2026, the highest total of any UK force. The figure, obtained by the Press Association under freedom-of-information laws, marks an 83% increase on the previous year. Barnet officers are now using new powers to confiscate modified machines without issuing a warning.
New law removes warning requirement
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From 29 June 2026, police no longer need to issue a warning before seizing an illegal e-bike. The change, introduced under the Crime and Policing Act 2026, applies when officers believe a machine is being used anti-socially. A government spokeswoman told the Press Association the law was strengthened to address dangerous speeds on roads and pavements.
Legal e-bikes, known as electrically assisted pedal cycles, must have a motor limited to 250 watts and cut out at 15.5mph. Many confiscated machines have been modified to exceed 70mph. Such vehicles are classified as electric mopeds, requiring registration, tax and insurance. Police say modified e-bikes are often used in theft, drug offences and collisions.
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Barnet residents report rising concerns
Barnet Council has not released local seizure figures. Residents have reported speeding and pavement use near high streets and parks. Metropolitan Police Commander Neerav Patel told the Press Association Londoners are "fed-up of the criminal and antisocial use of e-bikes". Officers now use portable rolling-road devices to test an e-bike’s maximum speed at the roadside.
In May 2025, 86-year-old Gloria Stephenson was killed by an illegal e-bike on a zebra crossing in Sunderland. A 10-year-old child in Grimsby suffered serious injuries after being struck on a pavement in April 2026. In Poole, a pregnant woman was hit while crossing a road in January 2026, leading to a premature birth and a critically ill baby.
If that was to hit a small child, it can cause serious injuries.
Sergeant Stuart Ford, City of London Police cycle team
What Barnet residents can do
Residents can report illegal e-bikes to Metropolitan Police via 101 or the force’s online reporting tool. Officers may test the speed of a machine using rolling-road devices. Barnet Council has not announced specific enforcement operations, but the new law applies across the borough. Police advise checking e-bikes meet legal standards before purchase.
The next formal step is a review of the Crime and Policing Act 2026, expected in early 2027. Campaigners, including Labour MP Julie Minns, are calling for illegal e-bikes and conversion kits to be classified as "unsafe products". It is unclear whether the government will introduce further legislation.
Questions this report answers
+How many illegal e-bikes did police seize in London?
Metropolitan Police seized 2,367 illegal e-bikes in the year to 19 May 2026. This is the highest total of any UK force and marks an 83% increase on the previous year. The figures were obtained by the Press Association under freedom-of-information laws.
+What are the new police powers for seizing e-bikes?
From 29 June 2026, police can confiscate illegal e-bikes without issuing a warning. The power applies when officers believe a machine is being used anti-socially. The change was introduced under the Crime and Policing Act 2026 to address dangerous speeds on roads and pavements.
+How can Barnet residents report illegal e-bikes?
Residents can report illegal e-bikes to Metropolitan Police via 101 or the force’s online reporting tool. Officers may test the speed of a machine using portable rolling-road devices. The new law applies across Barnet, but the council has not announced specific enforcement operations.
+What makes an e-bike illegal?
Legal e-bikes must have a motor limited to 250 watts and cut out at 15.5mph. Machines modified to exceed these limits, or capable of speeds over 70mph, are classified as electric mopeds. These require registration, tax and insurance. Police link modified e-bikes to theft, drug offences and collisions.
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