ENSURING e-scooters are being used appropriately has been the focus of a police operation this week, which incuded the Isle of Wight's two biggest towns. 

Officers from Hampshire Constabulary’s Roads Policing Unit spent three days engaging with e-scooter users in Ryde, Newport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

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Currently, only the rental ones are legally allowed to be used, with private ones only able to be used on private land — and with the owner’s permission, say Hampshire Constabulary.

On Wednesday, the team spent time in Ryde and Newport, speaking with riders and residents about road safety and community issues.

On the mainland, police spoke with a number of e-scooter riders and issued several warning letters to private users during the operation

The roads policing team also dealt with various motoring issues, from seatbelts not being worn and mobile phones being used while at the wheel, to parking on a pedestrian crossing and number plate offences.

Sgt Dave Hazlett, of Hampshire Constabulary's Road Safety Unit, said: “During the three-day operation, we've been out engaging with e-scooter riders, and raising awareness that privately owned e-scooters cannot be used on public roads or on pathways.

Read: Isle of Wight Beryl e-Scooters receive misuse reports

Isle of Wight County Press:

“We appreciate people are often trying to use them as part of a more economical and sustainable form of transport. However, they are still classed as a motor vehicle and cannot used on the roads as the law stands.

“If a person is seen using one illegally, they receive a formal warning. If they are seen again, they can be issued with a fine, receive points on their licence and have the scooter seized.

“Increasingly, we are also seeing e-scooters being used to facilitate other criminality as well, and we want to ensure we are able to protect our communities.”