The force says there has been an increase in the electric vehicles being used by balaclava-wearing hoodlums
More security guards, neighbourhood safety officers, and police officers have been spotted patrolling around the Council House and Old Market Square(Image: LDRS)
One of Nottinghamshire Police’s top officers has pledged that “the war on e-bikes will continue” as part of a crackdown on youth crime in the city centre.
Nottinghamshire Police’s City Superintendent Chris Pearson says the force will continue to take away the electric vehicles from those who are using them in criminal activity.
It comes as part of a return to “good old-fashioned policing” following an incident in Old Market Square on Sunday, November 16, when youngsters were seen wielding machetes in full view of families at the Winter Wonderland Christmas market.
There has also been a string of recent incidents involving groups of youths climbing onto the disused Debenhams building – despite 24/7 “stringent” security.
Supt Pearson told Nottinghamshire Live there has been an increase in youngsters coming into the city centre to cause trouble whilst riding e-bikes and e-scooters and wearing balaclavas.
In particular, he says officers have seized a large number of Surron-brand dirt bikes which can be illegal to ride on public streets around the UK.
“We’ve certainly seen an increase in e-bikes and e-scooters around the city centre – we’re taking a huge amount of electric bikes away,” Supt Pearson said.
“In the city centre Surron bikes are being ridden illegally, not just by young people minding their own business, but by young people wearing balaclavas as well.
“That is incredibly intimidating to members of the public. To be crystal clear, the war on e-bikes will continue and we will take them off people.
“They shouldn’t be on the pavements, not on the roads, not in the market square, and certainly not while wearing balaclavas that intimidate members of the public.
“We will simply take them away, and it’s a shame we have to do that – but we’re here to keep the public safe.” Supt Pearson said that in early 2025, Lime e-bikes were being used by balaclava-wearing criminals who were taking the vehicles without paying.
However, he says this situation has now improved and the force is focusing efforts on the Surron bikes. To help tackle the issue, off-road bikes have been deployed in the city centre to chase the bike-riding criminals into areas that police cars cannot reach.
Increased patrols in the city centre – and in particular the square – have seen 92 people arrested on suspicion of offences including drug dealing, robbery, carrying a bladed article, breach of bail, and recall to prison.
As of Friday (December 5), 19 people have also been banned from entering the city centre over the festive period as part of their bail conditions.
Supt Pearson said he is also concerned by the number of young people entering the city centre whilst wearing balaclavas to deliberately hide their face.
“If they are wearing them in a way that intimidates members of the public, or allows them to commit crime – we generally will find out,” he continued.
“It’s a difficult balance to strike – there are people there who’ll be trying to keep warm and we need to have those conversations with people.
“But we will take action when it’s not a legitimate reason and I’m a big believer that individuals should not be wearing face coverings when they’re out committing crime.”
Mr Pearson added that there are certain exceptions to this, such as people wearing face coverings for religious reasons. Seven suspects, the youngest of whom is 14 years old, have so far been arrested on suspicion of various offences related to the incident at Old Market Square.
Two have been released on police bail with stringent conditions, including not to enter the city centre, while investigations continue.
