Big Haul of Dangerous Vehicles in Latest Police Crackdown
13 e-bikes, scooters and mopeds seized at Putney Bridge junction
The haul of seized scooters, e-bikes and mopeds. Picture: Met Police
July 10, 2026
Putney’s Safer Neighbourhood Teams have carried out a fresh round of targeted traffic enforcement following growing concern about dangerous riding and illegal vehicles on the High Street. The latest operation, held at the junction of Putney High Street and Putney Bridge Road, resulted in 13 vehicle seizures and renewed calls for safer behaviour from riders and drivers.
The focus of the operation was illegal e‑bikes, though officers also stopped and checked mopeds, scooters and other vehicles passing through the junction. By the end of the deployment, police had seized three mopeds, seven e‑bikes and three scooters. During the operation, one officer was injured when an e‑bike rider failed to stop when directed, an incident that police say underscores the risks posed by non‑compliant and dangerous riding.
Acting Police Sergeant Gary Berry, who leads the Thamesfield and East Putney teams, said officers are acutely aware of how illegal vehicles and anti‑social riding affect residents, businesses and visitors. He emphasised that while officers cannot be present on the High Street at all times, they will continue to run proactive operations whenever resources allow, targeting those who place others at risk and taking “robust action” against offenders. More operations are already planned for the coming weeks.
The latest enforcement follows months of heightened attention on traffic offences in Putney. Towards the end of June Putney Neighbourhood Teams carried out a similar operation seizing 5 mopeds and 8 e-bikes with the riders all been summonsed to attend court for a variety of offences.
In March, officers stepped up patrols after residents raised concerns in a community survey about dangerous driving and the growing use of illegal two‑wheeled transport. Police issued a ticket to a man riding a one‑wheeled hoverboard on Lacy Road and stopped a 12‑year‑old boy using a private e‑scooter on the pavement, calling his mother to collect both child and scooter. Officers have also been investigating reports of a man riding a cargo bike at speed along the towpath between Putney Common and Putney Bridge, allegedly behaving aggressively while carrying a child.
Cycle patrols have since resumed across Thamesfield ward, with officers using both bicycles and foot patrols to maintain a visible presence. Police continue to remind residents that private e‑scooters remain illegal on public roads and pavements unless part of an approved rental scheme, and that activities such as street racing, cruising or performing tricks can be reported as anti‑social behaviour through the Met Police website.
Click here to sign up for Met Engage if you haven’t already done so.
Like Reading Articles Like This? Help Us Produce More This site remains committed to providing local community news and public interest journalism. Articles such as the one above are integral to what we do. We aim to feature as much as possible on local societies, charities based in the area, fundraising efforts by residents, community-based initiatives and even helping people find missing pets. We’ve always done that and won’t be changing, in fact we’d like to do more. However, the readership that these stories generates is often below that needed to cover the cost of producing them. Our financial resources are limited and the local media environment is intensely competitive so there is a constraint on what we can do. We are therefore asking our readers to consider offering financial support to these efforts. Any money given will help support community and public interest news and the expansion of our coverage in this area. A suggested monthly payment is £8 but we would be grateful for any amount for instance if you think this site offers the equivalent value of a subscription to a daily printed newspaper you may wish to consider £20 per month. If neither of these amounts is suitable for you then contact info@neighbournet.com and we can set up an alternative. All payments are made through a secure web site. One-off donations are also appreciated. Choose The Amount You Wish To Contribute. If you do support us in this way we’d be interested to hear what kind of articles you would like to see more of on the site – send your suggestions to the editor. For businesses we offer the chance to be a corporate sponsor of community content on the site. For £30 plus VAT per month you will be the designated sponsor of at least one article a month with your logo appearing if supplied. If there is a specific community group or initiative you’d like to support we can make sure your sponsorship is featured on related content for a one off payment of £50 plus VAT. All payments are made through a secure web site. |