Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps are being taken to support police enforcement of illegal e-scooter use.

The Government is committed to supporting the police in tackling the illegal and anti-social use of e-scooters. Privately owned e-scooters are classed as motor vehicles and are illegal to use on public roads and other public places unless they comply with the relevant legal requirements such as having appropriate insurance, driving licences, number plates, and helmets.

Police already have powers to stop, seize and, where appropriate, dispose of illegally used e-scooters, as well as to enforce offences relating to careless or dangerous use.

The Government has reduced and aligned vehicle disposal timeframes, enabling vehicles to be disposed of after seven days. In the Crime and Policing Act 2026 we strengthened police powers to tackle vehicles used in an anti-social manner, including e-scooters, by removing the requirement to issue a warning before seizure. These measures will enable officers to take swifter action against those using e-scooters illegally and in a way that causes alarm, distress or nuisance to the public.

The Home Office continues to work closely with policing partners and the Department for Transport to support effective enforcement and improve public safety.