Portsmouth police inspector reveals 422 e-scooter riders sent warnings in less than 12 months

HUNDREDS of e-scooter riders in Portsmouth have been issued a warning by police, a city chief has revealed.
By Tom Cotterill
Published 25th Sep 2021, 09:03 GMT
E-scooter rider on his phone in Winston Churchill Avenue, Portsmouth. Picture: Chris Moorhouse (270820-07)E-scooter rider on his phone in Winston Churchill Avenue, Portsmouth. Picture: Chris Moorhouse (270820-07)
E-scooter rider on his phone in Winston Churchill Avenue, Portsmouth. Picture: Chris Moorhouse (270820-07)

Inspector Marcus Kennedy, who is part of Portsmouth’s neighbourhood policing team, unveiled the figures during a Facebook live debate on e-scooters last night.

Inspector Kennedy said that since November, some 516 e-scooter issues had been reported to police in Hampshire, with riders being issued warnings 422 times.

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The top officer added that ‘over half of those warnings were done in Portsmouth’ which he said demonstrated how seriously the force was looking to tackle the ‘marmite’ issue of e-scooters.

During the online broadcast, Inspector Kennedy warned people not to buy and ride private e-scooters in the roads. ‘It’s illegal’, he said as they cannot be taxed or have an MOT.

The inspector insisted police did not want to punish every e-scooter rider but instead educate them.

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