Staffordshire Police has launched a crackdown on the illegal use of e-scooters across Stoke-on-Trent.

From this week, officers will be visiting schools, shops and community hubs to engage with people about the dangers of e-scooters and the law around using them in public.

The following phase will involve officers working proactively as part of their usual patrols to seize any e-scooters that are being used illegally across the city. 

Officers moving into the final phase of the operation will then look to seize any further e-scooters being used illegally. Where appropriate, prosecution will follow against those continuing to use them illegally and dangerously on our streets.



Police will be warning people about the dangers of e-scooters and the law around them (Staffordshire Police).

Sergeant Vicky Welch, from the Stoke North local policing team, said: "We know lots of people riding e-scooters don't necessarily understand the law that sits around them, particularly young people.

"We don't want to prosecute people who fall into this category, and we fully understand that communities want other priorities to be tackled as well, but persistent illegal use of e-scooters is a real problem and breaks the law, which we must uphold.

"Officers up and down Staffordshire are working hard every day to tackle the issues that matter most to local people. Those riding e-scooters might be engaging in anti-social behaviour and putting themselves and others at risk on our road networks, which is why we need to act.

"The main aim of this initiative is to make sure people know about the law around e-scooters. It isn't about prosecuting these people.

"We'll take the necessary action against those who persistently ignore these interventions and continue to use e-scooters illegally on our streets."

------------

READ MORE: Man in 'serious condition' following collision on A50 near Stoke-on-Trent

Free from clickbait, pop-up ads and unwanted surveys, Stoke Nub News is a quality online newspaper for our city.

Subscribe to our FREE weekly newsletter email HERE - just click the 'SIGN UP' button.

Please consider following Stoke Nub News on Facebook or Twitter.