Illegally modified e-bikes seized in city centre

Two e-bikes that had been illegally modified have been seized in Derby city centre.

Derbyshire Police officers stopped the first one as it was being ridden on St Peter’s Street on Friday.

They found it had been modified to travel more than 31mph (50km/h).

The force said another e-bike, adapted to allow speeds of up to 30mph (48km/h), was stopped on the same pedestrianised street on Sunday.

Unmodified e-bikes can be ridden up to 15.5mph (25km/h) anywhere pedal cycles are permitted, without being registered, taxed or insured, according to current UK legislation.

But Derby City Centre neighbourhood teams said e-bikes modified to travel at faster speeds were classed as motorcycles.

A spokesperson added: "We will take action against these machines whenever we can."

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