How we are tackling e-bike crime in Camden

One of the things you have told us is frustration of e-bike enabled crime. We have been working hard to tackle this problem, both across the Met and in Camden specifically, using the latest technology and innovations. 

We were the first borough to trial new “rolling roads” testing kits, which look like a portable treadmill, allowing our officers to safely test the speed of suspected modified bikes, seizing those that can cause a danger to pedestrians and road users. 

A recent operation using these testing kits on Tottenham Court Road allowed us to seize 29 illegal e-bikes and seven illegal e-scooters, as well as making five arrests, three of which were for theft. 

So far this year, officers have seized more than 2,500 illegal e-bikes and e-scooters across London as part of the Met’s ongoing crackdown on illegally modified and dangerously used two-wheelers.

In a separate operation on Kilburn High Road, local officers were joined by media as they carried out enforcement activity targeting illegal e-bikes and e-scooters linked to criminality and antisocial behaviour. You can watch the full video report here.

We have also expanded our own e-bike fleet. The lightweight bikes enable officers to navigate traffic, narrow streets and other areas inaccessible to cars and motorcycles, helping them pursue offenders more effectively.

The bikes have proved particularly effective in tackling phone theft, contributing to a reduction of more than 13,000 offences across London in the past year. See our new police Surrons in action here.

Neighbourhood Superintendent for Camden, Matt Cox said: 

“We are continuing to come down hard on those who use illegally modified e-bikes, whether to drive dangerously or to commit crimes such as phone snatching and drug dealing.

“By combining new technology such as ‘rolling roads’ with intelligence-led policing, we have removed significant numbers of illegal two-wheelers from our streets.”