E-Scooters crackdown as Met Police launches first operation to target the machines, stopping 100 riders in just one week

Almost 100 people were caught illegally riding electric scooters in London this week as the Metropolitan Police staged its first operation targeting the machines.

The majority of riders received a warning but 10 were fined and had their scooters seized due to aggravating factors such as speeding or breaking red lights.

A spokeswoman for the Met said the force has been focusing on policing motorised-scooters since April but launched designated checkpoints for the first time this week.

It comes following the death of TV presenter and Youtuber, Emily Hartridge. The 35-year-old was struck by a lorry in Battersea while riding her e-scooter on July 12, making her the first person in the UK to be killed while riding an e-scooter.

The following day a 14-year-old boy suffered a serious head injury after crashing into a bus stop in Beckenham, south-east London.

One of the riders caught during Friday's operation, David Carboni, said it was "a little bit shocking" to be given a warning.

"They're such good vehicles for the city. They're reducing congestion, they're reducing pollution. You really want to be able to have something like this to use,” Mr Carboni, who bought his e-scooter last week, said.

Chief Superintendent, Colin Wingrove head of roads and transport policing at the Metropolitan Police said the public must be made aware of the risks associated with e-scooters which are only authorised for use on private land and are banned from being ridden on pavements and roads.

He led an operation at a busy Islington junction in North London on Friday morning during which three riders were stopped and issued with warnings.

Mr Wingrove said legalising public e-scooter use “is not as easy as flicking a switch”.

"For the time being, we'll educate the public, advise, and where we need to we will take enforcement action,” he said.