Police have taken to the streets of Evesham to raise awareness of the laws around e-scooters.

Officers from Evesham Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) have been engaging with the public after concerns were raised in the district about people using electric-powered vehicles illegally.

While e-scooters can be purchased lawfully, their use on public roads, pavements, cycle lanes and pedestrian-only areas is prohibited.

 

 

Read more: Ex-Cherry Tree Lodge manager failed to protect woman from sex assault

 

 

The only legal use is on private land with the owner's permission.

PC Justine Lane and PC Martin Kennedy visited a nearby secondary school as part of the campaign, which has been undertaken in partnership with Wychavon District Council.

While there they interacted with pupils and teachers, furthering knowledge about the use of e-scooters.

PC Alex Prentice and PCSO Brad Sansom also attended a regular session at a nearby middle school on the topic of e-scooters.

The officers have said their engagement with students on the topic will continue.

The SNT officers then moved on to speaking to retailers selling the electric vehicles, urging store managers to inform customers about the laws surrounding e-scooters and the potential fines and penalty points that could be handed out when used illegally.

Retailers will now distribute information leaflets on e-scooter laws to interested buyers.

To finish off the day's activities, PC Lane and PC Kennedy positioned themselves in a part of town frequented by e-scooter riders.

They interacted with two riders and another two pedestrians, providing them with information and issuing warnings about potential consequences of reoffending.

Police sergeant Duncan Eades of Evesham SNT said: "We are educating the community following concerns about the use of e-scooters on public roads which is illegal.

"Our aim is to remind people of the laws surrounding their use and engage with people at first before we move on to enforcement, hopefully this way everyone will have the opportunity to adjust to the rules before we must police them."

Residents should note that riding e-scooters in public places may result in a fine of up to £300 and six penalty points for driving without insurance, and a further £100 fine along with three penalty points for driving without a licence.