The Met have seized 52 illegal e-bikes and mopeds during a two-day operation to combat crime and anti-social behaviour in Harlesden and the West End.
The two-day operation took place from Friday 27 to Saturday the 28 February, during which officers set up stop sites at in high traffic areas to target riders.
On Tubbs Road in Harlesden, on the Friday, 14 mopeds and three vehicles were seized.
Officers also pursued a male suspect who failed to stop at the site, later arresting and charging him with dangerous driving and failing to stop, as well as driving without a license and insurance.
At Cambridge Circus in the West End, on the Saturday, officers seized 38 illegal e-bikes and three vehicles within just five hours.
Superintendent Luke Baldock, the Met’s lead officer for combatting e-bike crime, emphasised police awareness of Londoners’ concerns about how these illegal vehicles are being used for criminal activity – such as phone theft and anti-social behaviour.
“The Met is continuing to ramp up action and increase the roll-out of specialised operations across our neighbourhoods to tackle this type of crime,” he said.
“We are also working with stakeholders across the e-bike industry, public sector partners and listening directly to communities to ensure people can cycle and travel safely in London.”
Met interceptor teams utilised live intelligence from CCTV and police drones alongside the stop site to aid their operation.
This is part of a continued crackdown by the Met on the dangerous and illegal use of e-bikes in London, building upon months of operations to reduce neighbourhood crime.
These operations have resulted in a record 2,741 seizures of illegal e-bikes and e-scooters throughout the capital since the start of 2025.
An e-bike is considered illegal when it doesn’t comply with the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle (EAPC) regulations – classing them as unregistered motor vehicles.
These vehicles are typically rigged with a motor that exceeds the maximum continuous power rate of 250watts, enabling them to travel at over double the speed limit of 15.5mph.
Featured image credit: Metropolitan Police
Join the discussion