Sussex Police has launched a new operation targeting the illegal and dangerous use of e-bikes and e-scooters across the county, including Brighton and Hove.
Operation Scramble will bring together neighbourhood officers, roads policing teams and the Fatal Five Unit. Police say the work will combine public education with enforcement against illegal, dangerous and antisocial riding.
Reports increased by more than half
Police received 2,504 reports involving illegal e-bike and e-scooter use in the 12 months to June 2026. That represents a 53.7% rise from the 1,629 reports recorded during the previous 12 months.
According to Sussex Police, 25.6% of the reports concerned antisocial or dangerous riding, while 51.8% were connected to suspected drug activity. Just over half of the identified riders were aged 25 or under, and more than a third were teenagers or children.
What riders need to know
Privately owned e-scooters cannot legally be used on public roads or pavements unless they form part of an authorised rental scheme. Electric bikes must also meet the legal requirements that apply to electrically assisted pedal cycles.
Possible penalties include a £300 fine and six licence points for riding without insurance. Riders may also face fines and penalty points for using pavements, mobile phones or running red lights. Vehicles used antisocially may be seized.
Sussex Police said its teams will work with schools, colleges, parents and local communities alongside enforcement activity. Members of the public are encouraged to report illegal or dangerous riding through the police’s usual reporting channels.
Source
Sussex Police: New operation launched to disrupt illegal e-bike and e-scooter use
Featured photo by Elena Theodoridou on Unsplash.
Published 17 September 2026.
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