A major enforcement operation in Cardiff has resulted in more than 140 illegally modified electric bikes and mechanically propelled vehicles being removed from the streets.
The seized machines were capable of reaching extreme speeds, with most adapted to travel between 25mph and 70mph, while one vehicle was documented travelling at an astonishing 86mph.
The coordinated effort involved South Wales Police working alongside Cardiff Council's Off-Road Bike Enforcement team and immigration officials.
The initiative targeted areas where modified e-bikes had become a significant concern for public safety, particularly in pedestrian zones and green spaces across the Welsh capital.
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The police seized the e-bikes and disposed of them during the operation period
|SOUTH WALES POLICE
The confiscated vehicles have since been destroyed and recycled by Cardiff Council as part of the enforcement action.
The campaign unfolded through eight separate operations conducted in August and formed part of a broader initiative to address anti-social behaviour in the city.
South Wales Police's Neighbourhood Policing Team secured additional funding from the Police and Crime Commissioner after receiving community complaints and gathering local intelligence about the growing e-bike issue.
The operations specifically targeted the Canton and Cathays areas in the city, where illegal e-bike activity had become particularly problematic for residents and businesses.
The police operation hoped to remove hundreds of e-bikes operating illegally on Welsh roads
|SOUTH WALES POLICE
Multiple agencies coordinated their efforts, with police officers working alongside Cardiff Council enforcement teams and immigration officials to maximise the impact of each deployment.
The systematic approach allowed authorities to identify and remove dangerous vehicles from circulation while also addressing related criminal activity in the targeted neighbourhoods.
The enforcement actions also saw officers arrest one individual for possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply, while another person was detained for carrying a pointed blade.
Neighbourhood Inspector Tim Ursell said: "We're aware of the significant danger these illegal e-bikes pose to our community, and the impact they have had on local businesses and residents."
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He noted that compliance with e-bike regulations had improved during the operation period. "Throughout the eight deployments, we've noticed an improvement in compliance with the law for e-bike users, and a significant decrease in those using illegal and modified e-bikes in the area," the inspector stated.
The initiative formed part of the force's broader safer summers programme, with enforcement efforts set to continue through autumn and winter.
Councillor Norma Mackie emphasised the serious safety concerns posed by the modified vehicles across the Welsh capital.
She said: "As a Council, we actively encourage people to cycle, but what we can't have is people driving illegal, modified electric bikes in parkland and pedestrian areas, causing a danger to others."
Police forces can seize e-bikes caught breaking the legal speed limit in the UK
| PAThe councillor highlighted that one confiscated bike had reached 84mph, expressing particular alarm at the safety implications.
She explained that while these machines had been modified for high-speed performance, they retained only the basic braking systems designed for standard pedal cycles.
"They are dangerous and need to be taken off the streets for everyone's safety," Ms Mackie said, warning that enforcement operations would continue and any seized bikes would be confiscated and destroyed.
The legal speed limit for e-bikes in the UK stands at 15.5mph, making the seized vehicles' capabilities particularly alarming.