Police face several challenges when trying to stop unlawfully used e-bikes and e-scooters. The government has therefore launched an appeal for innovative ideas to combat e-bike and e-scooter enabled crime.

Part of the Ministry of Defence, the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA), “finds and funds innovations for a safer future.” It is currently looking for ways to bring e-bikes and e-scooters to a controlled stop.

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DASA says that UK police forces are seeing a rise in the use of e-scooters and e-bikes for crime.

Outlining some of the challenges of combating this, it said: “E-Bikes and E-Scooters can reach excessive speeds and the rider may not be wearing protective equipment (e.g. a helmet). The small wheels of E-Scooters and high centre of gravity of the rider make the rider vulnerable to injury in the event of a loss of control.

“This has led to an operational need for police to be able to bring these vehicles to a controlled stop in a manner which does not pose a significant risk to the rider, the public or police officers. Therefore, there is a significant desire to augment or replace solutions to this problem.”

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DASA’s goal at this stage is simply to identify new and innovative concepts or designs.

The key requirements are that any system/technology should:

• Render a stationary e-scooter or e-bike incapable of moving off
• Bring a moving e-scooter or e-bike to a controlled stop
• Be capable of being successfully deployed in many different locations against e-scooters or e-bikes whilst they are moving or stationary, i.e. the system/technology should be readily portable
• Be target specific, i.e. does not affect persons or technology around the suspect vehicle
• Be reliable in use and consistent when activated

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DASA says it will also consider solutions which would allow e-bikes, e-scooters or the suspects using them to be electronically located “post event” thus reducing the need for a pursuit.

It emphasises that it does not want solutions to prevent the loss/theft of an e-bike or e-scooter.

Submissions must be made by midday on November 9.

More info here.