Police in Birmingham have launched a major crackdown on illegally modified electric bikes and scooters, following stark warnings from senior medics who are now treating at least one serious injury every day caused by crashes.
A Growing Menace on City Streets
The operation targets so-called 'souped up' machines that have been chipped or converted to override legal speed limits. Dr Justine JJ Lee, a major trauma specialist at University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB), said her team is seeing people arrive with "very serious injuries and trauma" after falls or collisions with kerbs, lampposts, and vehicles.
"They often have multiple issues, with a concerning number of head injuries," Dr Lee explained. "Most don't wear a helmet, and the speeds they reach mean the impact of a fall can be really catastrophic." She described the surge in such cases as a worrying new trend for a unit more accustomed to treating car crash victims.
Police Action and the Legal Grey Area
West Midlands Police Chief Constable Craig Guildford labelled the doctored vehicles "a menace" and "a blight on pedestrians and other road users." He confirmed a dedicated taskforce is now tackling the issue, an approach that has drawn interest from other police forces across the country.
Guildford emphasised the critical difference between legal and illegal e-bikes. Legal models, including hire bikes, are speed-limited to 15.5mph and provide a cost-effective transport option. However, once modified to exceed this limit, they are reclassified as motor vehicles. Riders must then have insurance, a licence, wear a motorcycle helmet, and the vehicle must be registered and taxed. Police are using this legislation to stop riders, prosecute them, and in some cases, crush the seized vehicles.
In a contrasting move, the force has also purchased six of its own legal e-bikes for patrols in hotspot areas. In one month, this team attended 119 incidents, made 16 arrests, and conducted 24 stop and searches.
The Severe Risks of Modification
The dangers of these modified machines are multifaceted and severe:
Excessive Speed and Accidents: Modified e-bikes can reach reported speeds of up to 60mph, but lack the braking systems and structural integrity for such velocity. This leads to high-impact collisions, resulting in severe injuries and fatalities.
Link to Crime and Exploitation: These fast bikes have been linked to drug dealing, phone snatches, and assaults. There is also major concern about their use in the delivery industry, where riders are often given them to make more deliveries, despite being inexperienced and unlicensed.
Fire Hazard: Unregulated conversion kits and substandard batteries pose a serious fire risk. West Midlands Fire Service recorded 117 fires involving lithium-ion batteries from e-bikes, e-scooters, and similar devices up to 2024, resulting in 26 injuries and two deaths.
The issue has been highlighted by an All-Party Parliamentary Group as a "crisis hiding in plain sight," calling for urgent action to stop unsafe products entering the UK and to protect exploited workers. With medics, police, and fire services united in their concern, the crackdown in Birmingham signals a growing national effort to address the dangers of illegally souped-up electric transport.
