Over 1,000 people have been suspended from Liverpool’s e-scooter rental scheme amid concerns that parents are allowing children to use their accounts to access the vehicles. The issue has also been raised in Kettering where police have issued suspensions and warnings in an operation targeting those riding both rental and privately owned scooters.

E-scooters can only be used on public roads if they are part of a government-approved rental scheme. Riders must hold at least a provisional driving licence and be over 16 years of age.

A decision on altering the legal status of privately-owned e-scooters is unlikely before March of next year.

Speaking in the wake of an operation intended to raise awareness of the legalities of e-scooters, a spokesman for the Kettering neighbourhood team told the Northants Telegraph: "Making an account for your child to ride the Voi scooters under your name is illegal and you are committing offences.

"Is it really worth a trip to court to get points on your own licence that may affect your driving licence, job etc?"

The Liverpool hire scheme is also run by Voi.

The operator recently introduced additional safety measures there, including switching off its service at 9pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and permanent and temporary bans for users breaking the rules of the road.

The operator implements a three-strike system.

• After one strike, users receive a seven-day ban and are required to complete an online course
• After two strikes, users receive a 30-day ban
• After three strikes, users receive a permanent ban

Commenting on the 1,000 week-long suspensions handed out, a Voi spokesperson told Mail Online: “The [ban] figures reflect the positive and successful collaboration between Voi, Liverpool City Council, and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to clamp down on a tiny percentage of people engaging in anti-social behaviour and misuse of our service.”