E-bikes linked to nearly 40,000 crimes and crashes in three years as calls grow for registration plates and for them to be treated like mopeds

Published: 22:48, 3 July 2026 | Updated: 22:54, 3 July 2026 E-bikes have been linked to tens of thousands of crimes and road crashes, sparking growing calls for a crackdown by ministers. Nearly 39,000 incidents involving the increasingly popular vehicles were recorded by police forces over the last three years, with a 70 per cent surge over the period. They include scores of pedestrians being smashed into - causing fatalities and life-changing injuries in many cases - drug-trafficking, robberies, assaults and sexual offences. Some riders were carrying weapons or were intoxicated when stopped by officers, while several devices owned by illegal immigrants were impounded. The data, obtained by the Mail, also shows forces failed to identify hundreds of suspects, sparking fresh calls for e-bike riders to be forced to display number plates or other visible markings. Of 43 police forces in England and Wales, 29 responded with data, meaning the true figures will likely be higher. E-bikes are supposed to be limited to a maximum speed of 15.5mph to be legal on UK roads, but faster models can simply be bought online or they are easily modified to go at speeds of up to 70mph. Nearly 39,000 incidents involving e-bikes were recorded by police forces over the last three years, with a 70 per cent surge over the period  City of London Police force officers were recently seen inspecting e-bikes to see if any had been illegally modified  This was the moment teenage e-bike rider Billy Stokoe mowed down and killed grandmother Gloria Stephenson on a zebra crossing in an incident that shocked the nation  This officially turns them into motor vehicles and makes them illegal. The growing number of incidents and ease at which they can be modified has led to mounting calls for them to automatically be classified as motor vehicles and treated the same as mopeds. E-bikes have a battery, electric motor and a built-in control system to assist pedaling, meaning they can easily reach much higher speeds than traditional pushbikes and have been caught breaking road speed limits. But many riders are taking to the roads without a licence and insurance. And they are being used by criminals to commit crimes like street robberies because assailants can flee the scene quickly and avoid detection. Tory shadow transport minister Greg Smith said: ‘It’s clear e-bikes are being used dangerously and for criminal purposes across the UK. ‘The government can’t just bury their heads in the sand and need to take real action before more people are hurt or worse.’ Nick Freeman Celebrity roads lawyer Nick Freeman, also known as Mr Loophole, added: ‘If you don’t know who is driving [because e-bikes don’t have reg plates], and you can’t locate the driver or rider, the law is impotent, it’s meaningless. ‘And that’s why a lot of these people are not brought to account. ‘They should be classified as mopeds and motorbikes and if you’re going to have one, you have to have a registration plate and that deals with the problem very simply and allows the police to bring people to account. 'The law is dragging its heels and failing to protect the public. And it’s very simple. You just add an addendum to the Road Traffic Act that says all e-bikes will now be classified as motor vehicles, which means having helmets, insurance and a registration plate.’ Jamie Hassall, executive director of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety, which advises MPs, said: ‘While legal e-bikes can play an important role in cleaner and more accessible transport, the increasing prevalence of illegal modified e-bikes threatens to undermine public confidence in the entire sector. ‘Enforcement is made particularly difficult because many of these vehicles are visually indistinguishable from compliant e-bikes, despite being capable of speeds and performance that place them firmly in the category of motor vehicles. Billy Stokoe mowed down and killed grandmother Gloria Stephenson on a zebra crossing in an incident that shocked the nation  Gloria Stephenson was killed on a zebra crossing by e-bike rider Billy Stokoe BBC broadcaster Nicky Campbell recently revealed his daughter, Lilla, was left badly injured after a hit-and-run incident involving an e-bike  ‘We urgently need stronger action to reduce illegal use and improve public safety.’ The figures come after a string of high-profile crashes involving e-bikes, including the daughter of BBC broadcaster Nicky Campbell. Opening up about the hit-and-run last month involving his daughter, Lilla, 26, Mr Campbell said it happened in Peckham, south London, while with her three sisters and that it had been 'a long and emotional night' after she was left 'badly injured'.  In another case which shocked the nation, teenager Billy Stokoe was jailed for six years and nine months after ploughing into 86-year-old grandmother Gloria Stephenson on a zebra crossing in Sunderland in 2025. Stokoe had taken cannabis and was using a mobile phone when the fatal crash happened. Devon & Cornwall and Dorset Police recorded one of the highest tallies of incidents, collectively recording more than 9,600 over three years. E-bikes were involved in nearly 1,000 Road Traffic Collisions (RTCs). More than 700 were linked to ‘violence against the person’ incidents, 60 to drugs offences, 40 to ‘possession of weapons’ crimes and 84 to sexual offences. The force was unable to identify a suspect in 3,396 cases - over a third. West Yorkshire Police recorded one of the biggest increases in incidents in percentage terms, jumping from 1,798 in 2023 to 4,001 last year. This was a 122 per cent increase. In total, the force recorded 8,647 incidents over the three year period. There were nearly 500 RTCs and more than 5,700 anti-social behaviour and crime-related incidents, including 250 robberies, 156 arson and criminal damage incidents and 19 drug offences. The force said it was unable to identify a suspect in 1,655 cases. City of London Police said it had several cases of e-bike riders being arrested where offences included 'Immigration - enter / remain in UK beyond time limit'. This could include people working in the gig economy, such as making fast food deliveries.  A Government spokesman said: A government spokesman said: ‘Anyone using an e-bike to intimidate, injure or commit crime should expect police action, including fines of up to £2,500, licence points and criminal prosecution. ‘We’ve given police stronger powers to seize vehicles, including faster and more powerful e-bikes, where they are being used anti-socially - without needing to issue a warning. ‘Modified e-bikes can be seized if used without a licence or insurance, and we are cracking down on unsafe products sold online.’ The comments below have not been moderated. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. 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