Seize and crush e-scooters policing chief tells officers
Matthew Scott, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Kent, has told his officers to seize and crush privately owner e-scooters they see being ridden on public roads. The e-scooter rental trial in Canterbury finished in November last year and as this has not been renewed the rental option is no longer available to users. If they use their own devices, which are not legal to use on roads or cycle paths, they may now have them confiscated and crushed.
The UK government, despite sympathising with those who are struggling with recent cost of living rises and trying to encourage us to live greener lifestyles, is no nearer a final decision on legalisation of micromobility devices (e-scooters and other personal electric transport). there are still around 30 e-scooter “trials” in progress around the UK but the majority the country are not covered by these trial areas. If you want to leave the car at home (or cannot afford a car) your only choice is cycling or public transport. 
Cycling web site thebestbikelock.com recently looked into bike theft statistics and concluded that 56% of bike thefts were not reported to the police. Between July 2021 and June 2022 74,421 bike thefts were reported in England and Wales. As less than half of thefts are reported that means that the real total is likely to be in excess of 150,000 thefts per year. Of the 74,421 reported thefts just 1.7% resulted a suspect being charged and 90% of cases were closed without a suspect being identified.
How many times has your bike been stolen? – 22% of UK cyclists have never had their bike stolen, 78% have had 1 or more stolen, 4% have had 6 or more stolen. Of all of those thefts only 3% were taken from inside the owners home.
How easy is it to bring an e-scooter into your place of work or home vs bringing your bike inside?
Seize and crush e-scooters –
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/07/04/seize-e-scooters-matthew-scott-police-commissioner-kent/
Bike theft statistics –
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/jan/02/suspect-identified-in-only-one-in-10-bicycle-theft-cases-in-england-and-wales
