Police across the southeast have issued a warning to new e-scooter owners not to ride them illegally or they could face £300 penalties.
It comes Sussex Police seized hundreds of e-scooters across the region in recent years with spikes taking place across Christmas.
Under UK law e-scooters can only be used in approved trial council areas and remain illegal to use on public roads.
Sussex police and crime commissioner Katy Bourne said her force seizes “well over a hundred every year” from people riding them illegally.
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The warning comes as part of a new Government clampdown on anti-social behaviour, including the use of e-scooters on pavements.
Latest figures revealed that Kent Police seized 164 e-scooters during 2023/24, up from 73 the previous year.
The force has confiscated more than 400 e-scooters since 2019/20, according to a freedom of information request.
Surrey Police made 195 seizures during the same period. Sussex Police have taken more than 400 e-scooters off the streets since 2021.
Sussex Assistant Chief Constable Pete Gardner told the BBC: “E-scooters are not licensed by the DVLA. You cannot get insurance for privately owned ones, and they can be seized by the police for having no insurance.”
Bourne explained that riding e-scooters on public roads is illegal due to lack of insurance. She urged manufacturers and retailers to inform customers about the legal restrictions when purchasing the devices.
For young people caught breaking the law, police will first provide education and explain the rules to them and their parents.
However, second-time young offenders will face prosecution, Bourne warned.
Adult riders face immediate prosecution if caught, with penalties including a £300 fine and six points on their driving licence.
One pedestrian is still suffering after being struck by an e-scooter in the city in 2022 during a rental scheme trial.
“I suffered a broken arm at the time and I’ve lost strength in it. I also had a broken jaw and cheekbone. It’s left me more nervous and extremely cautious in the street,” she explained.
Department for Transport figures revealed that six people were killed in e-scooter collisions in 2023, down from 12 in 2022.
There were 1,292 collisions involving the devices in 2023, compared with 1,411 in 2022.
Across Kent, Surrey and Sussex, there were 85 reported casualties in e-scooter collisions last year.
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A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “We recognise the concerns around e-bikes and e-scooters, particularly for vulnerable groups, and we are closely following the e-scooter trials to look at how they can be used safely on our roads.
“Private e-scooters remain illegal to use on public roads, and trial e-scooters must meet construction standards.”