Illegal e-bikes in Richmond have been flagged repeatedly at police liaison meetings across East Sheen, Mortlake, Barnes, Teddington and Hampton Wick for the past 18 months, with residents growing frustrated at the lack of visible enforcement. Now Cllr Roberts, Leader of Richmond Council, has committed to raising the issue directly with the Metropolitan Police and seeking assurance that enforcement activity matches what happens elsewhere in London.
The council’s intervention follows persistent reports from multiple police liaison groups that standard responses citing lack of resource or difficulty of intervention were no longer acceptable to residents.
What counts as an illegal e-bike
Not all e-bikes are illegal, and confusion about the rules is part of the problem.
Legal e-bikes in the UK must have a motor that assists pedalling only (no throttle), cuts out at 15.5mph, and does not exceed 250 watts of power. You do not need a licence, insurance or registration for a legal e-bike, and it can be used anywhere a normal bicycle is allowed. The illegal machines causing concern are typically modified or imported models with throttles, motors over 250 watts, or no speed limit. These meet the legal definition of a motor vehicle, which means they require registration, insurance, a driving licence and a helmet, and cannot be ridden on cycle paths or pavements.
The distinction is invisible to most pedestrians, which is why enforcement matters and why residents have been asking for action you can see.
Where the complaints are coming from
The pattern emerging from police liaison meetings is borough-wide, not isolated to one neighbourhood.
East Sheen, Mortlake and Barnes groups have logged concerns about illegal e-bikes on shared riverside paths and around school drop-off times. Teddington and Hampton Wick meetings reported the same frustration, with residents describing near-misses on pavements and in residential streets. The issue has been raised regularly since early 2026, with community representatives asking what intervention looks like and when it will happen. Until now, the response has been that police lack the resources or that stopping riders is too difficult.
What shifted the tone was the cumulative weight of residents saying the same thing across every corner of the borough, making it impossible to dismiss as a localised complaint.
How we got here
- Early 2026
- Residents begin raising illegal e-bike concerns at East Sheen, Mortlake and Barnes police liaison meetings
- Throughout 2026
- Complaints logged at multiple police liaison groups borough-wide; standard response cites lack of resource
- July 2026
- Teddington and Hampton Wick Police Liaison Group highlights the issue again with no progress
- August 2026
- Cllr Roberts commits to raising enforcement consistency directly with the Metropolitan Police
East Sheen Matters, a local community site, has documented the issue since early 2026, logging the repeated requests for action and the frustration when liaison groups were told intervention was too difficult. Their consistent reporting helped build the case that this was not a fleeting complaint but a sustained community concern requiring a formal council response.
What enforcement could look like
The council's request to the Metropolitan Police centres on consistency of enforcement across London.
If other boroughs are running targeted operations or visible patrols, Richmond residents want the same level of response. Enforcement options include on-the-spot fines, seizure of illegal vehicles, and prosecution for riding without insurance or a licence. What residents have asked for is not aggressive policing but visible deterrence, particularly near schools, parks and riverside paths where pedestrian traffic is heaviest. The question now is whether the Metropolitan Police will commit resources to match the council’s request.
Success will be measured not in total seizures but in whether you notice fewer illegal e-bikes on your regular walking and cycling routes over the coming months.
What this means for you
If you walk, cycle or use shared paths regularly, the council’s intervention is the first formal step toward enforcement you might notice. Watch for updates from your local police liaison group, which meets several times a year and publishes minutes online. If you encounter illegal e-bikes on pavements or paths, you can report them via the Metropolitan Police online reporting tool or by calling 101. Include the location, time and a description if safe to do so. The more specific reports the police receive, the stronger the case for targeted patrols in those areas. For now, the commitment from Cllr Roberts means the issue is on the formal agenda with the Metropolitan Police, which is further than it has been in 18 months of resident requests.
The council’s decision to escalate this to the Metropolitan Police acknowledges that local frustration has reached a tipping point. Whether it results in visible enforcement depends on the response from the police and the resources they can commit to Richmond.
What makes this more than a traffic annoyance is the concentration of pedestrian routes, cycle lanes and shared riverside paths where illegal e-bikes pose genuine risk. The borough’s network of quiet streets and parks was never designed for unregulated throttle-powered machines reaching 30mph.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if an e-bike is illegal?
- Legal e-bikes assist pedalling only and cut out at 15. 5mph. If you see a rider using a throttle without pedalling, travelling well above cycling speed, or riding a heavy machine that looks more like a moped, it is likely illegal. You cannot ride a legal e-bike on the pavement, but illegal e-bikes often do because riders know they cannot use the road without insurance and a licence.
What happens if police stop someone riding an illegal e-bike?
- Riding an illegal e-bike without insurance, registration or a licence is a criminal offence. Police can issue a fixed penalty notice, seize the vehicle, or prosecute for riding without insurance, which carries a fine and penalty points. Repeat offenders can face higher penalties and a driving ban.
Why has enforcement been so slow in Richmond?
- The standard response from police liaison groups has been lack of resources and the difficulty of stopping riders safely. Unlike a parked vehicle, an illegal e-bike can be ridden away quickly, and pursuing riders in residential areas or on shared paths creates safety risks. This does not mean enforcement is impossible, but it requires targeted operations and visible patrols, which need dedicated resource.
Will this stop delivery riders using e-bikes?
- Legitimate delivery riders use legal e-bikes that meet UK regulations. The enforcement target is throttle-powered machines and modified bikes that exceed legal limits. If a delivery rider is using an illegal e-bike, they are subject to the same rules as any other rider and could face prosecution or seizure.
Where do I report illegal e-bike use in Richmond?
- Report via the Metropolitan Police online reporting tool or call 101. Include the location, time, direction of travel and any description you can safely note. If you feel threatened or witness dangerous riding, call 999. Your local police liaison group also logs community concerns, and you can find meeting dates and contact details on the Richmond Council website.
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