South Wales Police and Cardiff Council have seized and destroyed 68 illegal mechanically propelled vehicles (MPVs), including e-bikes and e-scooters, during a targeted operation on Friday. The action, part of Anti-Social Behaviour awareness week, was supported by a National Police Air Service (NPAS) aeroplane that circled the Ely, Gabalfa, and Rumney areas for over five hours.
Operation Details and Community Concerns
Residents had speculated that the aircraft's presence was linked to “the electric bikers who have been plaguing the area for weeks now.” Recent weeks have seen numerous complaints about e-bike riders on the Taff Trail, with balaclava-wearing individuals carrying out robberies and attacks. Friday's seizures included 17 illegal e-bikes from Cardiff’s green spaces and trails, and one bike on Castle Street capable of reaching 86 km/h.
The police plane tracked riders and also identified suspected drug deals. Inspector Tim Ursell of South Wales Police said: “This activity, as part of Op Livewire, follow reports from our local communities who have voiced concerns around anti-social behaviour on MPVs and linked issues. We continue to run these resource-heavy operations to tackle use of illegal e-bikes and scooters in our communities.”
Arrests and Convictions
Among those arrested was a man in his 20s from Cardiff, stopped on a Sur-Ron at Lydstep Park, Gabalfa. A search found two mobile phones and 33 wraps of crack cocaine and heroin worth around £1,000. He appeared in court on Saturday and was convicted of two counts of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and one count of possession of a controlled Class B drug. Sentencing is scheduled for next month.
An 18-year-old man spotted in Ely by NPAS riding an illegal e-bike was detained; the bike was seized. Further investigation led to his arrest on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class B drugs and driving without a license or insurance. He has been released on bail.
A 16-year-old boy in Ely, seen riding an electric motorcycle and suspected of distributing drugs, was arrested along with another 16-year-old on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class B drugs. One was further arrested for three counts of assaulting emergency workers. Around 35g of cannabis was recovered.
A 21-year-old man from Splott was stopped in Cathays after meeting a Sur-Ron rider in an alleyway. He was arrested on suspicion of possession of Class B drugs.
Council and Police Commitment
Councillor Ed Stubbs, cabinet member for frontline services at Cardiff Council, stated: “Illegal electric bikes and e-scooters cause significant problems in local communities across Cardiff, including in the city centre and parks across the city. The public has made it clear to us that they do not feel safe when illegal e-bikes are being ridden at excessive speeds in their communities, so we have acted and will continue to do so.” He added that riders often lack licenses and insurance, creating dangers for other road users. Since operations began in August 2025, a total of 800 illegal e-bikes, e-scooters, and off-road bikes have been removed from Cardiff’s streets and green spaces.
