Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of clause 8 of the Crime and Policing Bill on the number of police interceptions of (a) pedal bikes and (b) e-bikes whose riders are committing antisocial behaviour.
Tackling anti-social behaviour and the harm it causes is a top priority for this Government and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission. Clause 8 of the Crime and Policing Bill removes the requirement for police to issue a warning before seizing a vehicle which is being used anti-socially, including illegally modified e-bikes, under section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002. This will allow police to put an immediate stop to offending.
The Government has recently consulted on proposals to allow the police to more quickly dispose of seized vehicles, such as illegally modified e-bikes, which have been used anti-socially. The consultation closed on 8 July and the Government response will be published in due course.
These combined measures will strengthen the law and send a clear message that antisocial behaviour involving vehicles will not be tolerated.
Section 59 seizure powers apply to motor vehicles only.