In some parts of the country you can be forgiven for thinking that it is completely legal to ride a powered e-scooters on the public road or on a cycle track. It's not, and Derbyshire Police enforce the law on this issue

Here's a paragraph from their website explaining their policy - and  to what extent they feel they've been successful.

"Officers across the county have seized more than 1,000 e-scooters since we began a ‘seize first’ approach in November 2024.

Some of the most shocking seizures encountered include an e-scooter capable of reaching 50mph ridden by a 12-year-old, a model fitted with mini handlebars for a four-year-old passenger, and a parent who received points on her licence after repeatedly allowing her child to ride on a busy road.

Privately owned e-scooters cannot legally be used on public roads, pavements or cycle lanes. They can only be used on private land with the landowner’s permission.

The change to how we seize e-scooters was launched in response to increasing concerns from the public about the illegal and unsafe use of e-scooters on public roads and pavements in Derbyshire.

We’ve also seen a reduction in the number of collisions with e-scooters reported in the county since the new approach began; in 2024 we saw eight e-scooter collisions which caused serious injuries, however across 2025 and 2026 so far, we’ve seen none".

Chinley has featured in this campaign - here's a report about action taken on 2nd October 2026:-

"Illegal Electric Scooter Seized:

Officers also seized an electric scooter being ridden in Chinley.

Many people are still unaware that privately owned electric scooters are illegal to use on public roads, pavements and other public spaces. They do not meet legal requirements for road use and are not covered by the insurance, licensing and safety regulations required for motor vehicles.

Electric scooters pose a real risk to both riders and pedestrians. They are often used silently, can reach significant speeds, and are frequently ridden without protective equipment. We've seen incidents nationwide involving serious injuries and collisions.

If you're thinking about riding an electric scooter in a public place, think again. You could lose your scooter, receive penalties, and most importantly, put yourself and others at risk. We will continue to patrol our communities, take enforcement action where necessary and address the concerns residents raise with us. Please do your part by parking responsibly, following the law and helping to keep Chinley safe for everyone."