Police seize thousands of modified e-scooters being ridden illegally as ... trends now Thousands of 'lethal' e-scooters are being seized by police each year as brazen drivers flout rules by riding on pavements and while drunk or high. A total of 1,111 e-scooters were confiscated across 20 police forces last year after a spate of illegal behaviour by people using the devices. And the overall figure is likely to be much higher as the remaining 23 constabularies in the UK did not reveal statistics on the seizures. In 2022, a whopping 1,134 were confiscated - a dramatic increase from the 760 taken away from owners the year before. The relatively new mode of transport has also had a surge in popularity among those drug-dealers and criminals snatching mobile phones. Thousands of 'lethal' e-scooters are being seized by police each year as brazen drivers flout rules by riding on pavements and while drunk or high. A total of 1,111 e-scooters were confiscated across 20 police forces last year after a spate of illegal behaviour (Stock Photo) In 2022, a whopping 1,134 were confiscated - a dramatic increase from the 760 taken away from owners the year before Some e-scooters have even been modified so they can exceed the speed limit of 15.5mph. The data, obtained in a series of Freedom of Information requests submitted by The Telegraph, showed that most of the confiscations were made when drivers were stopped for using the devices without insurance. Only e-scooters from official rental companies can be used legally on public roads and cycle lines. Riders must have a provisional or full driving licence and the rental company must provide insurance. Users do not need to wear a helmet but are encouraged to and it is against the law to drive privately owned e-scooters on public roads although they can be used on private property. The hotspots for e-scooter seizures Essex: 673 e-scooters in three years Norfolk: 341 City of London: 332 Suffolk: 187 Advertisement A number of the seizures were linked to road traffic collisions while others were associated with a variety of different crimes, including theft and drug-dealing. Some 22 regions across the country have joined e-scooter trials introduced by then transport secretary Grant Schapps in 2020. The City of London takes around five devices off the street during an average week, amounting to a total of 286 last year. This represented a vast increase on the 46 confiscated in 2022. Meanwhile Essex Police seized 673 e-scooters in the last three years with two collisions in the county causing deaths between 2021 and 2022. Some 341 devices were confiscated by Norfolk Police in that time, with six involved in collisions, while Suffolk Police took 187 off the road with six associated with criminal behaviour. One device in both Norfolk and Suffolk was reported to have been involved in a serious or fatal collision. Officers at these two constabularies are now encouraged to seize e-scooters and prosecute users whenever they come across an illegally used device. Many of the confiscated e-scooters are disposed of or auctioned off while some are impounded in storage. Some devices are handed back to owners as they can be used on private property. Sarah Gayton of the National Federation of the Blind called for all of the e-scooter trials to be scrapped. She told MailOnline: 'We want them all off the street and the Government to act to stop selling them. 'There needs to be an amnesty to taking them back. 'We desperately need this trial to be shut down.' Ms Gayton added: 'Blind and visually impaired people want to walk and exercise but this is spiralling out of control – can you imagine what our town centres will be like once they're legalised? A number of the seizures were linked to road traffic collisions while others were associated with a variety of different crimes, including theft and drug-dealing (Stock Photo) 'The pavement is for people to get from A to B and not for people to do their business or their money-making schemes or do whatever they want. 'The Government needs to respect people who need the pavement to walk on . 'We want them all off the street and the Government to act to stop selling them. 'It's bonkers that people can buy them still when we know they're illegal. 'They're not roadworthy. Police can't police these devices and we know they're trying their hardest. 'It's terrifying for people and they're absolutely abhorrent.' MailOnline has approached the Department for Transport for comment. The latest figures heap more pressure on ministers to crack down on the menace of e-scooters. More than 20,000 crimes involving e-scooters have been recorded by forces over the past three years, with a rise of 60 per cent over the same period. The crimes include drug-trafficking, sexual offences and hundreds of robberies. The City of London takes around five devices off the street during an average week, amounting to a total of 286 last year Scores of e-scooter riders were also found to be carrying weapons and dozens of pedestrians have been run down, according to the data – given in response to Freedom of Information requests made by the Daily Mail in January. Tory MP Greg Smith, who sits on the Commons Transport Committee, said: 'E-scooters, e-bikes and other forms of micro-mobility have been increasingly used in crime and there needs to be a serious approach to cracking down on people's ability to use them for criminal purposes. 'A registration scheme would be sensible because that's ultimately how you're going to hold people accountable – and Ministers need to get that done as quickly as is humanly possible.' However, Ministers say they will wait until Government-backed trials on rental e-scooters have concluded before tightening the law. But these trials that have already been extended three times and are now not scheduled to finish until May 2026. Experts say that failure to introduce a requirement for private e-scooters to be registered means thugs are being given an 'open invitation to commit any form of offence and avoid detection'. Requests were sent to 43 police forces covering England and Wales, 21 of which responded – meaning the true number of incidents will be much higher than the 20,219 figure given by the forces who did respond. Avon and Somerset recorded the highest number over the last three years at 1,900. This was followed by Lincolnshire (1,774) and Northumbria (1,600). But Bedfordshire Police recorded one of the most severe rap sheets. E-scooters in the county were linked to 23 trafficking of drugs offences, 44 robberies and two possession of firearms offences, as well as to reports of stalking, sexual assault and even of attempted murder. Tory MP Greg Smith (pictured), who sits on the Commons Transport Committee, said: 'E-scooters, e-bikes and other forms of micro-mobility have been increasingly used in crime and there needs to be a serious approach to cracking down on people's ability to use them for criminal purposes' Road-offences lawyer Nick Freeman said: 'They can travel very quietly, and there's no registration plates so the police have very little chance of apprehending anyone.' Road safety campaigners have previously called on the Government to 'urgently' bring forward legislation to crackdown on 'wild west misuse' of the vehicles by strengthening device standards, limiting speed, and improving user safety. Others have called for an 'outright ban' of the devices, with some Londoners arguing that 'police need to take more action to stop these riders'. What are the rules for riding e-scooters? You must have the category Q entitlement on your licence to use an e-scooter. A full or provisional licence for categories AM, A or B includes entitlement for category Q. If you have one of these licences, you can use an e-scooter. E-scooters must have motor insurance, but you do not need to arrange this as this will be provided by your e-scooter rental operator. You should wear a cycle helmet when using an e-scooter. Helmets are recommended but are not a legal requirement. Make sure that your cycle helmet conforms to current regulations, is the correct size and is securely fastened. Wear light-coloured or fluorescent clothing so that other road users can see you in daylight, poor light and in the dark. You may use a trial e-scooter on the road (except motorways) and in cycle lanes. You must not use an e-scooter on the pavement. Traffic signs with a blue cycle symbol apply to e-scooters (unless a sign is displayed prohibiting e-scooters from that particular cycle way). Source: gov.uk All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility