NEARLY 230 illegal e-bikes and e-scooters have been seized across Dorset this year, as police step up action against anti-social behaviour (ASB) and dangerous riding.

Dorset Police confirmed 99 illegal e-bikes, including scramblers and Sur-Rons, and 128 illegal e-scooters have been taken off the roads, marking the highest number of seizures the force has ever recorded.

The crackdown comes amid growing public concern about the impact of illegally used electric vehicles on neighbourhood safety, particularly in Poole and North Bournemouth.

In response, police launched a trial of SmartTag forensic spray earlier this year, following repeated reports of ASB.

Rolled out in March, the spray marks riders with a unique forensic code, strengthening evidence and improving the chances of successful prosecutions.

Dorset Police say the technology will now be extended to other parts of the conurbation and wider county.

The initiative has attracted national attention, with Dorset sharing its approach and data with seven other police forces and Bournemouth University as part of an evidence-led study into tackling electric vehicle misuse.

Inspector Nick Lee, of the Poole neighbourhood policing team, who led the rollout, said: “The impact of the anti-social use of these illegal electric vehicles in our communities is regularly raised as a concern and that is why we have taken robust and decisive action to combat the issue, yielding a record number of seizures.

“I would like to reiterate that if you are caught riding one of these vehicles illegally, it will be seized, crushed and recycled. Their unlawful use in public areas puts pedestrians and other road users at risk.”

Police say many riders are unaware they are breaking the law, including delivery drivers and young people.

Inspector Lee urged buyers to check legality before purchasing and encouraged residents to report concerns.

An educational TikTok video explaining the risks and laws reached around 10 million people, with 40% of viewers aged under 24.

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick backed the approach. “The reckless and illegal use of e-bikes and e-scooters can have a real and lasting impact on people’s quality of life, making neighbourhoods feel unsafe and putting pedestrians at risk,” he said.

More information on the legal use of e-bikes and e-scooters is available on the Dorset Police website.