Northumbria Police to Stamp Down on E-Bikes and Scooters with New Drone Powers

National World - LocalTV

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Susan Dungworth is pushing for enhanced drone capabilities to tackle the growing problem of illegal motorbike, scrambler, and e-bike use across the region.

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00:00Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Susan Dunworth has spoken out about the need

00:05for stronger measures to tackle the problem, which has been reported in towns and cities

00:09across the region. While the force has already made progress using drones to track riders

00:14safely from the air, especially in the known hotspots, the Commissioner is calling for more

00:19advanced technology and stronger enforcement powers. Currently, police drones must stay

00:25within the pilot's line of sight, limiting how far they can travel. But Mrs Dunworth is looking at

00:31a new approach inspired by the British Transport Police, who have recently gained permission to

00:36remotely pilot drones from a central control room. This means drones can be pre-positioned across the

00:43country and flown over long distances, for example tracking a train journey from start to finish.

00:48This could significantly improve how police monitor large areas and gather intelligence without putting

00:53officers or the public at risk through high-speed chases. Since Operation Tapio in 2023, Northumbria

01:01Police has seized more than 200 illegal bikes and there's already been a 14% drop in reported

01:06incidents so far this year. In areas where police and community partners have worked closely,

01:12residents are reporting greater confidence in fewer problems. But the problem hasn't gone away.

01:18Another issue raised is a lack of public awareness. Many people are buying electric bikes or scooters

01:23cars for their children without realising it's often illegal to ride them on roads or pavements.

01:29Commissioner Dunworth noted that if you can walk into curries, first thing you see is electric bikes.

01:34People buy these for their kids without knowing the legality and there is no way you can legally

01:40divide them really. Yet they are still being sold and bought.

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