Illegal e-bikes 'not easy to stop' - commissioner

Illegal e-bikes "are not easy to stop" and a "large number of resources are needed to intercept" them, a police commissioner says.

The issue of illegally modified e-bikes reaching high speeds in pedestrianised areas of Cheltenham and Gloucester was discussed at a police and crime panel at Shire Hall on 11 July.

During the meeting, Gloucestershire Police and Crime Commissioner Chris Nelson described the vehicles as "difficult to catch" as councillors voiced their concerns.

However, he also said a specific "high resource" operation run by Cheltenham's neighbourhood policing team to address the issue had been "perfected" in the town.

"It's very effective, it works but it's very resource intensive," he said, adding it had not yet been used in Gloucester, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Also speaking during the meeting, Gloucester City Council leader Jeremy Hilton said the "souped-up bicycles" were a real problem in the city centre.

"It's absolutely frustrating, I've not seen a police officer stop these individuals," he said, adding he had been particularly concerned to see bikes on Westgate Street "just miss elderly ladies and gentlemen".

Temporary Chief Constable Maggie Blyth said Gloucestershire Constabulary was taking the issue seriously, telling the meeting her team would "come back with plans and make sure you're updated".

And Deputy Chief Constable Katy Barrow-Grint added that e-bikes were an issue nationally.

She said officers were looking at some "focussed activity" on e-bikes and e-scooters.

"We are committed to looking at this," she said.

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