Guidance for the use of electric scooter
Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.24.040925
I note you seek access to the following information:
In thr Feltham and Hounslow areas, police and council websites/media information on electric scooters shows stark warnings and horrendous consequences for their use.
This appears antithetical to the supposed goals of a greener London. Taking away my car without allowing me an electric scooter is cruel and utterly irrational.
Clearly, the actual police officers on the ground know this. They do not seem out to pick off commuters, but to target nuisance people. Rider reports online reinforce the apparent stark contrast between the de-jure and the de-facto.
I'm desperate to get an electric scooter and use it to go to prayers more regularly and vary my diet by visiting more shops. I see many people doing similarly, even riding past police, and from the age of the scooter and talking to them seem to be doing so without issue.
I need access to all internal guidance which has been given to officers on when to stop, sieze, or arrest people on electric scooters. Also all information on when this escalates to points on license (an intolerable punishment, which is why I have not taken the risks others are able to freely).
In addition, I need a relevant senior officer to have an honest discussion with me where instead of covering their backsides by quoting the laws and _hinting_ how they are enforced, they bluntly and openly tell me how it is so I can at least have parity with people who understand the social contract if not actually have full legal de-jure rights to use a scooter (which is the obvious moral and rational conclusion).
Decision
I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.
Please find below information pursuant to your request above.
The MPS issue guidance on their Internet account (met.police.uk) with regards to e-scooters. This will include advice on owning your own e-scooter and where they can be used, e-scooter rental schemes as well as potential offences and subsequent penalties if stopped using an e-scooter by police,
MPS | E-scooters and electric bikes
In addition, our Road and Transport Policing Unit has also supplied me with the following which may assist you.
Riding of private electric scooters on the public road is illegal in the UK as these devices have the legal classification of mechanically propelled vehicles which means in order to ride one you would need a category on a driving licence which does not currently exist and motor vehicle insurance of which no Insurance companies in the UK are currently willing to underwrite.
Any constable in uniform can stop a mechanically propelled vehicle (this is the classification of a private e-scooter) on a road or public place in accordance with S163 Road Traffic Act 1988. Any constable has the power to obtain names and address of drivers and others, and to require production of evidence of insurance and test certificates in accordance with S165 Road Traffic Act 1988.
Constables can enforce any offences found, currently where there are no additional concerns/offences officers have the option of issuing a one-time verbal warning under the banner of Operation Hornet this is discretionary by the officer.
If you wish to ride an e-scooter on public roads, you should consider the use of the hire e-scooters as per the guidance in the link above.
With regards to your last point about speaking with a senior officer, unfortunately I am not in a position to arrange for any officer to contact you to discuss this matter, however I have provided the link below which will allow you to input your address and find details of your local police station.