Thames Valley police and crime commissioner (PCC) Matthew Barber has written to four retailers in a bid to stop them selling e-scooters, as riding privately-owned e-scooters on public roads is currently illegal in the UK.
Barber said Argos, Currys, Decathlon and Halfords are aware of the legal status of e-scooters but continue to sell them, calling the disclaimers they use on their websites a, “bureaucratic nicety”.
In the letter, he said: “E-scooters are classed as motor vehicles, requiring insurance, which is currently not available. I know that you are aware of this fact, as you include a disclaimer on your website, yet you continue to offer these products for sale.”
> E-scooters and the law: When and where are you legally allowed to ride an electric scooter?
While it is illegal to use privately owned e-scooters on public roads, it is legal to buy them and ride them on private land with the landowner’s permission. The government has also announced that e-scooters will be made legal through the creation of a low-speed, zero-emission vehicle category, but this has been delayed several times.
In 2021, Halfords unveiled its first own-brand e-scooter, and it has previously said the UK is ‘behind the curve’ when it comes to legalisation.
> Road safety charity calls for government to bring forward e-scooter legislation
Barber said he, “entirely accepts the sale of e-scooters is perfectly legal as they could be used on private land, and indeed in due course the legal position may well change.
“I also appreciate as a commercial entity you are entitled, and indeed obliged to deliver profit for the business. Nevertheless, I would ask if you consider the continued sales to be consistent with being a responsible corporate citizen.”
The comments bring to mind those of West Midlands assistant police and crime commissioner Tom McNeil, who in 2021 accused a number of major retailers of being "immoral" for selling e-scooters while it remains illegal to use them on public roads.
Barber said despite the disclaimers, retailers are, “well aware that the vast majority of these products sold in your stores and online will be used illegally.
“This is not just a technical point of law, but also one of risk to your customers and the wider public. Encouraging the use of these vehicles leads to uninsured, unlicensed riders on our roads, often without any safety equipment such as helmets.
“I fully understand that there is nothing to prevent you selling these products, but I would ask you to consider if it is responsible to continue to do so. No doubt, you feel the disclaimer gives you protection by having informed your customers, but we both know that this is a bureaucratic nicety.
“I would ask if you would be content for your children to ride an e-scooter illegally, potentially putting themselves and others at risk and urge you to reconsider your position.”
