FOI 220865
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 220865
I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 6th January 2023. Please find below the response to your request:
Please may you provide me with:
1) The number of traffic offences recorded for e-scooter riders, broken down by the offence type (i.e. Driving/riding without insurance, need to be taxed). Could you please provide answers to Question 1 for the following calendar years 2019 - 2023 – up to the latest month available
2) For the traffic offences in Question 1) for e-scooter riders, can you list police action taken for each offence, split between: NFA, Potential Prosecution, Paid Confirmed, Ongoing, or any other classification your Force uses? For the following calendar years 2019 - 2023 – up to the latest month available.
3) For traffic offences in Question 1) for e-scooter riders, can you provide the total monetary value of Fixed Penalty Notices / fines handed out to offenders? Could you please provide answers to Question 3 for the following calendar years 2019 - 2023 – up to the latest month available?
4) How does your Force deal with people riding e-scooters illegally on pavements? Please could you provide as much detail as possible?
5) How many e-scooters have you seized from 2019 - 2023 - up to the latest month available?
Reply
1) The number of traffic offences recorded for e-scooter riders, broken down by the offence type (i.e. Driving/riding without insurance, need to be taxed). Could you please provide answers to Question 1 for the following calendar years 2019 - 2023 – up to the latest month available
|
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023* |
|
|
Use a motor vehicle on a road / public place without third party insurance |
1 |
1 |
4 |
7 |
0 |
|
Drive a motor vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence - endorsable offence |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Use a motor vehicle on a road without a valid test certificate |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Drive / ride a motor vehicle on a footpath / causeway beside a road - outside Greater London |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
*as at 13/01/2023
2) For the traffic offences in Question 1) for e-scooter riders, can you list police action taken for each offence, split between: NFA, Potential Prosecution, Paid Confirmed, Ongoing, or any other classification your Force uses? For the following calendar years 2019 - 2023 – up to the latest month available.
|
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023* |
|
|
Cancelled |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Prosecuted |
0 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
|
Fixed Penalty |
0 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
0 |
|
Ongoing |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
*as at 13/01/2023
3) For traffic offences in Question 1) for e-scooter riders, can you provide the total monetary value of Fixed Penalty Notices / fines handed out to offenders? Could you please provide answers to Question 3 for the following calendar years 2019 - 2023 – up to the latest month available?
|
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022* |
2023* |
|
0 |
£660 |
£1,542 |
£1,710 |
0 |
*as at 13/01/2023
4) How does your Force deal with people riding e-scooters illegally on pavements? Please could you provide as much detail as possible?
We operate across the force based on the below published guidance to officers, which highlights how we deal and under what legislation:
As an E-Scooter meets the definition of a motor vehicle, if it is being used on a road or public place (outside the conditions of a trial) it can be seized by a police constable and the rider prosecuted for riding a motor vehicle without insurance, in the same way that we deal with mini-moto cycle riders.
If the rider does not hold a suitable licence (Category Q), and is riding on a road, consider the driving licence offences as below. However, the rider would not need a licence if riding in a public place like a park - but they would still be required to have insurance.
You can consider the use of powers under Sec 165 Road Traffic Act and Sec 59 Police Reform Act.
Sec 165 Road Traffic Act - If an E-Scooter is ridden illegally on a road/footpath/park etc it will fall into scope of Sec 165 as it is ridden without insurance. West Mercia have chosen to follow government guidance on this and as E-Scooters are a powered vehicle, they can be seized for S165.
E Scooters will never comply with release criteria as they cannot get insurance on them. The only time we release back is if they are part of a government scheme (like the Redditch one) to the owner.
Sec 59 Police Reform Act - This can be used to warn a rider of a motor vehicle that if it used off-road (so this will include car parks, recreation grounds etc) to the likely annoyance of the public, the vehicle may be seized after the rider has been warned. It can also be seized if it is ridden carelessly on a road (but our Sec 165 powers would be the better option in such circumstances).
5) How many e-scooters have you seized from 2019 - 2023 - up to the latest month available?
2019/20 - Zero
2020/21 - Zero
2021/22 - 26
2022/23* - 22
*as at 13/01/2023