Seven e-scooters seized in Antrim as MLA urges parents: ‘Do not buy your child one’

E-scooters seized by police in Antrim over the weekend.

Seven e-scooters have been seized by police in Antrim as officers step up enforcement against their illegal use in public places — prompting a local MLA to issue a warning to parents ahead of Christmas.

The PSNI said Antrim Neighbourhood Policing Team, supported by the District Support Team, Local Policing Team and Probationer Support Team, seized the seven machines during an operation in the town.

Police said files will follow in relation to associated driving offences.

E-scooters face seizure in Northern Ireland

Privately owned e-scooters cannot generally be legally ridden on public roads or in public spaces in Northern Ireland.

Under current legislation they are treated as motor vehicles, meaning riders using them on the road would have to meet requirements including having an appropriate driving licence and insurance, while the vehicle would need to comply with registration, taxation and construction requirements.

In practice, most privately owned e-scooters do not meet those requirements and are restricted to off-road use.

The PSNI warned following the Antrim operation:

“E-Scooters are NOT legal on PUBLIC Roads.

“They will be SEIZED and DESTROYED after 14 days, unless you apply to a Magistrates Court at YOUR OWN COST.”

The enforcement action comes against a backdrop of increasing concern about both illegal e-scooter use and the risk of serious injuries.

PSNI figures previously released under Freedom of Information legislation show that 41 injury collisions involving an e-scooter were reported to police across Northern Ireland during 2024/25, up from 32 the previous year and 25 in 2022/23.

‘E-scooters are not toys’

South Antrim DUP MLA Trevor Clarke

South Antrim DUP MLA Trevor Clarke welcomed the Antrim seizures and called for similar enforcement elsewhere.

“Well done to the Antrim Town PSNI Neighbourhood police team for seizing 7 E-scooters last night,” Mr Clarke said.

“E-Scooters are not toys.”

Mr Clarke also highlighted concerns about serious head injuries involving children, pointing to evidence from both Belfast and the Republic of Ireland.

He said:

“Over 120 children have been taken to hospital with head injuries from E-scooters in Belfast alone in the last 2 years.

“Less than 10% are wearing a helmet.

“You are 3.5 times more likely to have a life-changing brain injury from an E-Scooter compared to a motorbike.

“In the Republic of Ireland, E-scooters are the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries in children.”

The latter concern is supported by recent evidence from Children’s Health Ireland. Doctors at Temple Street Hospital in Dublin have reported that e-scooter incidents have become the leading cause of traumatic brain injury among children admitted to its paediatric neurosurgical centre.

Figures released by Children’s Health Ireland this summer showed 18 children were admitted to Temple Street with brain injuries following e-scooter incidents between June 2025 and May 2026, compared with 12 during the preceding 12 months.

Christmas warning to parents

With e-scooters likely to feature on Christmas lists in the coming months, Mr Clarke urged parents to consider both the legal position in Northern Ireland and the potential safety consequences before buying one for a child.

“E-scooters cannot legally be ridden on public roads, cycle lanes, or pavements in Northern Ireland,” he said.

“As Christmas is coming up around the corner, do not buy your child an E-Scooter. It is not worth it.

“The PSNI are now cracking down and other policing districts should follow Antrim’s lead.

“Let’s keep our kids out of trouble and safe.”

The seven seizures in Antrim follow enforcement elsewhere in Northern Ireland, with police increasingly using seizure powers where e-scooters and other non-road-legal vehicles are being ridden illegally.

For parents considering an e-scooter as a Christmas present, the key distinction is where it can be used: buying or owning a privately owned e-scooter is not itself prohibited, but in Northern Ireland its lawful use is effectively restricted to suitable private land with the landowner’s permission.