Key Points
- South Wales Police have announced a crackdown on bicycle, electric bikes, and electric motorbikes that are being used illegally throughout the force region.
- The police are taking this step after the complaints of the people regarding the nuisance caused by these modes of transport and their connections with organized crime.
- Citizens are requested to share the incidents along with location, time, pictures, and video footage.
- According to data gathered from July 2025 to July 2026, the five most reported areas were Llandaff, Caerau, Whitchurch, Tremorfa, and Ely.
- Assistant Chief Constable Tom Williams will be overseeing this operation and stated: “My message to those who ride bikes illegally is clear: we are coming for you”.
- Technology investments include the expansion of the drone team.
- The police force had earlier seized over 700 bikes which were illegally used in Cardiff since the summer season.
- An illegal modified bicycle seized in the past operation could travel at a speed of up to 90mph.
Wales Police (Wales Times) October 06, 2026 – South uk/police/">Wales Police has launched a campaign aimed at tackling the illegal use of bicycles, e-bikes and e-motorbikes across the force area. The force said it had listened to concerns from communities about the impact of illegally ridden bikes, including links to anti-social behaviour and organised crime.
Members of the public are being urged to report incidents, including where and when bikes are being ridden and where they may be stored. Police are also asking for photographs, video and other information, including distinctive features of riders or vehicles.
Assistant Chief Constable Tom Williams, who is leading the operation, said the force was taking illegal bike use “very seriously”. He said the campaign would focus on informing the public, making it easier to report incidents and using information received to take action.
The force said it was also investing in technology, including expanding its drone team and exploring additional equipment to gather evidence. Mr Williams urged people with information or footage to report it through the force’s online portal.
How many illegal e-bikes have been seized in South Wales?
Data from reports made between July 2025 and July 2026 identified Llandaff, Caerau in Cardiff, Whitchurch, Tremorfa and Ely as the five areas with the highest number of reported incidents. More than 700 illegal e-bikes and e-scooters have been seized in Cardiff since last summer, according to South Wales Police.
In one operation executed by South Wales Police in conjunction with Cardiff Council, 62 motorised vehicles were apprehended within a single day. This crackdown on illegal transportation followed a successful initiative during the summer, where 135 motorised vehicles were seized.
In a previous effort in August, police and council officials managed to remove 24 e-bikes and e-scooters from the streets of Cardiff in just a few hours. As recently as late January 2026, officers seized a further 55 illegal e-bikes and scooters in Cardiff, deployed across the city centre, Ely, Fairwater, Cathays and Roath as part of a local initiative targeting illegal and dangerously ridden e-bikes and off-road vehicles.
What types of illegal vehicles are being targeted?
Inspector Tim Ursell of South Wales Police emphasised the importance of understanding the legalities surrounding these vehicles. He stated: “The unlawful operation of e-bikes and e-scooters is not only against the law but also poses significant dangers to pedestrians and other road users”.
One modified bike seized in a previous operation was capable of reaching speeds of up to 90mph, now recognised as one of the fastest ever taken in a collaborative effort by local law enforcement and council officials. The confiscated bikes will be destroyed and recycled.
In one single day across Cardiff and Barry, more than 60 illegal e-bikes and e-scooters were seized, including a modified mountain bike capable of reaching 90 miles per hour. On one Sunday alone, four illegal off-road motorbikes were spotted on the A4095 Penrhiwceiber, a main road.
Why are illegal e-bikes considered dangerous?
Ursell further noted that the issue of anti-social behaviour from e-bike riders is frequently brought up as a concern within communities.
“Typically, the individuals we stop are unaware of the regulations. They often include delivery personnel, commuters seeking economical transportation, or youths who view it as a trend. We encourage the public to be informed about the law and make safe, lawful choices”.
Last, the National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) issued a warning that the rise in electric transport usage is turning the streets into a “nightmare” for individuals with visual impairments, especially when these vehicles are parked on sidewalks.
Research conducted by the RNIB indicated that over a third of participants in their survey reported having encountered a street hazard in the last three months. The charity’s policy lead for travel and transport remarked that it is becoming increasingly challenging for blind and sighted people and wheelchair users to navigate independently due to the proliferation of obstacles on the streets.
During a recent e-bike crackdown in Cardiff, South Wales Police arrested four riders on suspicion of drug offences after a man in his 20s was found with 33 wraps of crack cocaine and heroin worth about £1,000. Figures obtained by the Press Association show more than 7,000 illegal e-bikes were taken off UK streets in a 12-month period.
What enforcement powers do police have?
With damage to protected habitats reportedly rising, police have powers to seize illegal off-road vehicles on the spot. As well as 4×4 vehicles and motorbikes, “we’re getting a lot more reports about e-bikes, which also cause the same amount of damage as motorbikes”, he added.
In one local case, a 14-year-old rider attempted to flee but was stopped and the bike was seized and will not be returned to the owner. “We have a zero tolerance approach to these offences being committed, particularly where it poses a risk”, according to local reporting.
The news fits into a very active and ongoing crackdown by South Wales Police on illegal off-road bike use across the Cynon Valley and wider region. Members of the public are being urged to report incidents, including where and when bikes are being ridden and where they may be stored.
Background of the Development
The current legal position is that a compliant e-bike is lawful, with cyclists having a duty to behave in a safe and responsible manner, as outlined in the Highway Code. South Wales Police, rather than the Council, has the responsibility to tackle the irresponsible or illegal use of e-bikes and e-scooters.
Cabinet has considered a report on the laws and enforcement responsibilities for the use of e-bikes and e-scooters, discussing the public’s concerns about anti-social behaviour, safety, and illegal use within local communities. The unlawful use of mechanically propelled vehicles (MPVs) on roads, pavements and public paths remains illegal under current legislation.
Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Local Communities
This development is likely to affect residents in South Wales, particularly those in the five hotspot areas identified by police data. Increased reporting mechanisms and technology investment, including drone teams, may lead to more seizures and prosecutions of illegal bike users.
Local communities may see reduced anti-social behaviour if the campaign succeeds in deterring illegal riding. However, the RNIB warning suggests that without sustained enforcement, streets will remain hazardous for vulnerable pedestrians, particularly those with visual impairments.
Delivery workers and commuters using economical transport may need greater awareness of legal requirements to avoid seizure of vehicles. The zero tolerance approach indicated by recent seizures suggests that illegal bike users face increasing risk of losing their vehicles permanently, as confiscated bikes are being destroyed and recycled rather than returned.
