The Metropolitan Police has expanded its e-bike fleet from five to 25 Sur-Ron bikes as part of a crackdown on phone snatching and other street crimes. Dramatic footage released by the force shows officers using the lightweight bikes to pursue offenders through narrow streets and staircases, areas that would be inaccessible by car.
Bodyworn footage shows pursuit
In one incident captured on bodyworn video on August 21, an officer on a Sur-Ron e-bike chased a moped rider through traffic and into a housing estate. The moped rider had been evading police at a vehicle stop site when the e-bike officer began the pursuit. Footage shows the officer weaving through traffic and speeding through residential streets before the suspect fell off the moped and fled on foot.
The officer continued the chase, eventually stopping the suspect as he attempted to jump over a railing. Upon arrest, the suspect was found in possession of a significant quantity of Class A drugs. He also turned out to be a disqualified driver riding a moped with false plates.
Impact on street crime
The force said the deployment of the Sur-Ron e-bikes has helped reduce phone theft by more than 13,000 offences across London in the last year. The bikes have a top speed of 59mph and can accelerate from zero to 50mph in 3.7 seconds.
The rollout is part of the Met’s efforts to reduce the number of criminals using e-bikes and causing fear on the streets. More than 2,500 illegal e-bikes and e-scooters have been seized so far. These bikes are often modified with high-powered batteries or are uninsured. Funding for the bikes came from profits taken from crime and was reinvested back into policing with support from the Home Office.
Official response
Louise Puddefoot, Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Frontline Policing, said: “Expanding our Sur-Ron fleet gives officers another powerful tool to stay one step ahead of criminals. These bikes allow officers to move quickly through busy streets, access areas traditional vehicles cannot reach, respond faster to crime and arrest more suspects.
“Criminals are using high-powered, often illegally modified e-bikes to commit offences such as phone theft and robbery. By expanding this capability, we have listened to our officers, giving them the tools they need to disrupt criminality and keep Londoners safe.
“Londoners are already seeing the results of our relentless focus on tackling street crime, with neighbourhood crime down 14 per cent over the past year and 13,000 fewer phone thefts.”
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, said: “The Met’s new fleet of Sur-Ron e-bikes sends a clear message that London will not tolerate criminal behaviour. These bikes have been successfully helping the Met to go after offenders who are increasingly using high-powered, illegally modified e-bikes to commit crimes and it’s great to be able to expand the fleet.
“With record funding from City Hall, the Met are using the latest innovation and technology, alongside neighbourhood policing, to stay one step ahead of criminals. Working closely with the Met, I am committed to being tough on crime and building on the progress that we have seen in tackling robbery and phone thefts, as we build a safer London for everyone.”
