A teenager has been charged following an incident involving a suspected nuisance e-motorbike rider in Rochester town centre, as Kent Police intensify their crackdown on antisocial use of electric scooters and e-motorbikes across Medway.
Officers were alerted shortly before 1am on Sunday, 8 June, to reports of a man riding an electric motorbike dangerously along the High Street in Rochester. The rider was approached by police and a member of the public, and detained at the scene. During a search, cannabis was found, and the e-motorcycle was seized.
Later that day, Daniel Hayward, 19, of Humber Crescent, Strood, was formally charged with:
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Driving without due care and attention
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Using a motor vehicle without insurance
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Possession of a Class B drug (cannabis)
He has been bailed to appear at Medway Magistrates’ Court on 11 July.
E-Scooter Seizures in Gillingham and Chatham
The incident came during a weekend of targeted enforcement in Medway. On Saturday, 7 June, officers seized five illegal e-scooters in Gillingham High Street during high-visibility patrols.
This was followed by the recovery of seven more e-scooters in Chatham town centre on Monday, 9 June, bringing the total to 12 e-scooters seized within 72 hours.
Police Warning to Riders
Inspector Paul Diddams, of Medway’s Community Safety Unit, issued a stern warning:
“Antisocial behaviour relating to the public use of electric scooters and electric motorbikes is not just disruptive for other road users, it is also highly dangerous.
“It’s illegal to ride an e-scooter on public roads, cycle lanes or pavements. Electric motorbikes are subject to the same laws as any other vehicle. We are committed to protecting pedestrians and road users, and that includes seizing illegal vehicles and prosecuting offenders.”
Kent Police have said that enforcement will continue as summer approaches, with patrols monitoring public spaces across Rochester, Gillingham, Chatham, and surrounding areas.
