This is the moment an illegal e-bike rider felt the full force of the law in York.
As YorkMix reported, police tackled the rider on Price’s Lane with what is called ‘tactical contact’ on Sunday– when officers physically use their vehicle to bring an offender to a stop.
In this case he was stopped after rolling over the police car’s bonnet. And now they have released footage of what happened.
Video
It came after police and CCTV operators monitored two men riding an e‑bike erratically at speed through the busy city centre.
A North Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: “Despite repeated attempts by officers to stop the bike using blue lights, the rider failed to stop, travelled the wrong way down one‑way streets and rode at speed through pedestrian walkways.
“Following an extended pursuit where there was a clear risk to the public, officers used tactical contact which is seen in this video clip to bring the bike to a stop on Price’s Lane. An 18‑year‑old man was arrested and the bike was seized.”
The incident happened less than 24 hours after two teenage boys were seriously injured in Acomb after their e-bike was in collision with a car.
And soon after the Price’s Lane incident, officers sighted a Sur-Ron style bike being ridden in an anti social manner along a footpath on Foss Islands Road, near the junction of Layerthorpe.
The rider again failed to stop for police and was pursued through Fifth Avenue.
The bike then crashed on a grassed area near St Aelred RC Church, after attempting to negotiate the junction with Melrosegate.
The teenage rider and pillion passenger were taken to hospital for treatment and are due to be interviewed by police later. The bike was seized.
The name given to police action against illegal bikes is Operation Pendulum.
Operational lead Inspector Jen Stockwell said: “These bikes may look fun and appealing, but when they are illegally modified or ridden irresponsibly, they become extremely dangerous.
“We’re seeing young people seriously hurt, riders taking risks that could easily kill them or someone else, and members of the public being put in danger.
“Our priority is safety. We want to prevent harm before it happens, but where riders choose to ignore the law, fail to stop for police or put the public at risk, we will take robust action – including tactical contact – to bring incidents to a safe conclusion.”
