Officers from Thames Valley Police seized knives and an illegal electric scooter from two young men at the Castle Quay Shopping Centre in Banbury, Oxfordshire, on February 14, 2026.
The police intervention began after the Castle Quay Security team spotted the pair acting suspiciously and alerted the local neighbourhood team. Both individuals were arrested, and one of the boys had his electric scooter taken by officers during the incident.
Electric scooters are not allowed inside the shopping centre under any circumstances. While some electric scooter trials have been extended across the country until May 2028, using private e-scooters on public roads, pavements, or in shopping areas remains against the law.
Recent data from CrimeRate shows that Banbury had 78 crimes per 1,000 people in 2025. This figure is 43 per cent higher than the average recorded across the rest of Oxfordshire.
The Thames Valley Police neighbourhood team carried out the seizure as part of their regular patrols to keep the town centre safe. They reminded the community that carrying weapons in public spaces will not be tolerated.
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