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Police ignoring e-scooter riders in public

UK police forces' officers are usually seen taking no action against the riders of e-scooters on public roads and footpaths unless someone is at an immediate risk of being seriously injured.

Image of a town centre sign with the town as its background.
Copyright: Dwayne Hards.

Police officers are highly unlikely to enforce e-scooter riding, cannabis possession, or other minor offences unless someone is at an immediate or serious risk of loss or harm. Police can be seen turning a blind eye to low-level offences unless bigger crimes are being committed as well which, in this case, the police would add minor offences to the bigger charges. This is commonly referred to as "throwing the book".


In the worst case scenario, the most a police officer will do is seize your cannabis or e-scooter and give you a verbal warning, but this is only likely to happen if you're being antisocial or a "dickhead". The most a police officer is likely to do is arrest you and give you an out-of-court disposal and/or a fixed penalty notice if you're being antisocial and have refused to move on when the officer gave you multiple chances to do so.


The law is only likely to be enforced if people are at risk of being seriously injured or stolen from; for example, drivers texting while driving or young people smashing shop windows.


The police are generally quite relaxed in Sussex, and they don't seem uptight about low-level offences. They can be seen turning a blind eye to low-level offences — for example, cannabis possession or e-scooter riding — that are being committed right under their noses on the Littlehampton High Street.

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