Holyrood committee opens inquiry into e-bike and e-scooter crime

Holyrood’s Criminal Justice Committee has opened an inquiry into crime and antisocial behaviour involving e-bikes and e-scooters, as the Scottish Police Federation calls for stronger powers to deal with dangerous riding and concealed faces. The committee says it will examine the scale and causes of the problem, its effects on communities, current laws and enforcement, and measures to prevent offences. It also plans to scrutinise the Scottish Government’s approach and its engagement with the UK Government, and hear from frontline workers, communities and people with lived experience. No findings have yet been reported. The Scottish Police Federation says officers have limited options when riders behave dangerously. Its chair, David Threadgold, is seeking authority for police to stop people wearing face coverings and require them to remove them. The request is the federation’s position; the inquiry is expected to assess whether authorities have sufficient powers and what changes may be warranted. Police Scotland reported seizing 561 e-bikes and 441 e-scooters by October 16, 2026. In 2025, it seized 373 e-bikes and 196 e-scooters. The figures cover seizures by vehicle type and do...