The Northamptonshire Police seized several high-powered electric motorbikes on February 2, 2026, after residents complained about dangerous driving in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire. The local policing team carried out the action to stop people from riding the vehicles illegally on public paths and in community parks.
Officers targeted specific areas including the Kingsway estate, Queensway, and Croyland Park following a surge in reports from the community. Local residents said the near-silent bikes were being ridden at high speeds on pavements, creating a safety risk for elderly people and children using the shared spaces.
While many riders treat these high-powered machines as toys, the UK Government classifies them as motor vehicles if they exceed certain power and speed limits. This means they must be registered and insured, and the person riding them must have a valid driving licence.
Police used a mix of plain-clothed patrols and marked vans to stop the riders and even tracked some bikes back to local homes. This crackdown follows previous efforts to install metal gates in parks to stop illegal motorbikes from entering green spaces and causing a disturbance.
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