Drones help hunt down illegal e-scooters in Gloucestershire

Drones are being used more regularly by police in Gloucestershire to help confiscate illegal e-bikes and e-scooters.

The drone unit gives the constabulary a tactical aerial advantage which they wouldn’t have otherwise – helicopters are used only for the most serious crimes.

Officers took 15 illegal e-bikes and e-scooters off the streets in Cheltenham and 33 in Gloucester in a recent operation.

“If you’re there to be found, we will find you with the drone,” said operator PSCO Adam Murcott. “We’ve got the ability to locate and follow vehicles that may not stop for police.”

The efforts are part of Gloucestershire Constabulary’s Safer Street Summer Initiative, focused on making town and city centres safer by tackling issues such as shoplifting, street crime and anti-social behaviour.

PSCO Murcott helps police on the ground locate the riders of the illegal vehicles.

“A lot of these people riding [illegal] e-scooters haven’t got driving licences – they are not suitable to be on the road,” he said.

Privately owned e-scooters cannot be ridden on roads, pavements or in any other public place.

For e-bikes, the maximum speed legally allowed when pedalling with motor assistance is 15.5mph.

Illegal e-bikes and private e-scooters cannot be insured or registered for use in public, so anyone doing so is committing insurance and driving licence offences, the force said.

Offenders may be given a £300 fixed penalty notice and six points on a driving licence, and their vehicle may be destroyed.

Police expect drones to become more integrated in their work in the future, as the range of the devices increases.