Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they plan to have, if any, with the Metropolitan Police following their announced decision not to confiscate illegal e-scooters; and what assessment have they made of the potential extra injuries caused to pedestrians from increased e-scooter criminal usage.

Enforcement of road traffic law is an operational matter for Chief Officers who will take account of local problems and demands. The police are operationally independent of Government. In September 2021, the Government published the factsheet ‘Reported road casualties Great Britain: e-scooter factsheet 2020’ that, using data collected in 2020, examines the main trends in collisions involving e-scooters and the casualties that were involved. The Government is working with the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) to explore options to reduce the illegal e-scooter use. We will continue to support the police to ensure they have the tools needed to enforce road traffic legislation including those relating to electric scooters.