The government has rejected a request by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) for additional police funding to crack down on e-scooter misuse. Metro mayor Dan Norris argued that the popularity of the region’s hire scheme had made it difficult for Avon and Somerset police to enforce the relevant laws.
WECA’s e-scooter hire scheme was launched in Bath and Bristol in October 2020 and has now seen over six million rides.
The Bristol Post reports that Norris wrote to Crime and Policing Minister Kit Malthouse earlier this month to ask for extra police funding.
“The vast majority of e-scooter users are careful and responsible, however a very small minority fail to follow the rules set by the trial,” he wrote.
“There is also the issue of people using private e-scooters which, at this current time, are not allowed to be ridden legally.
“The popularity of the e-scooter trial has made it difficult for Avon and Somerset police to enforce the laws and I therefore ask you to ensure that they are funded in a way that makes enforcement possible and are not disadvantaged by the high use of legal e-scooters.”
Norris is also concerned that with privately-owned e-scooters now set to be legalised, there is the prospect of a further influx of vehicles.
However, he said the government had replied to say it would not be providing Avon & Somerset Police with additional resources.
“I guess that is not a surprise but they really do need it,” he said. “So I will be talking to the police and crime commissioner about this because I know he shares some of the concerns, not least about safety of e-scooters alongside the enforcement.
“People make decisions on whether they are going to get caught or not when they do things that they shouldn't.”
A Home Office spokesperson said that Avon & Somerset Police would be receiving up to £362.2m for 2022-23, an increase of up to £18.6m compared to 2021-22. “It is for chief constables and directly elected police and crime commissioners to make operational decisions, including how to allocate resource, based on their local knowledge and experience.”
Elsewhere, the London Evening Standard reports that the capital’s various e-scooter trials have been extended until November 20.
“London’s e-scooter trial has proven to be very popular, with more than 1 million trips taken, so I am pleased that TfL and London Councils have been able to extend the trial to November,” said London’s walking and cycling commissioner, Will Norman.
“The trial is helping to shape our understanding of the role that e-scooters could play in the capital’s transport network and helping to inform future Government legislation on these vehicles.
