Public consultation will consider registration, insurance and licensing for e-scooters nationwide

The Government says it will consult the public on new e-scooter rules within the next year in response to concerns raised in Portsmouth.

In recent weeks, Portsmouth city councillors have voiced fears about the use of privately owned e-scooters.

It is currently illegal to ride a privately owned e-scooter on public roads, cycle lanes or pavements, although they can still be legally purchased.

Councillor Lee Hunt referred to the death of grandmother Gloria Stephenson, who was killed in Sunderland after being struck by an e-motorbike last year. He warned it was “only a matter of time” before illegal e-scooters in Portsmouth caused even greater harm.

He said the council had no powers to stop vehicles or prosecute riders, explaining that enforcement was “entirely within the jurisdiction of Hampshire Constabulary”.

Cabinet member for transport Peter Candlish said he strongly supported regulated e-bikes and e-scooters because they offered a “cheap, flexible point-to-point means of travel”.

He praised the Voi scheme for its safety features, including speed limits, insurance, rider training and location restrictions, but said illegal e-bikes and e-scooters lacked these safeguards.

He added that they were “typically used in crime” and contributed to “unsafe and anti-social behaviour”.

However, he said he did not believe “the genie can be put back inside the bottle” when it came to electric transport and argued that the technology’s benefits should not be overlooked.

In response, a Department for Transport spokesperson said: “Privately owned e-scooters remain illegal on public roads, cycle lanes and pavements, and police now have stronger powers to stop and seize vehicles being used illegally.

“We will consult on how e-scooters could be regulated safely, including registration, insurance and licensing, so responsible use can be legalised while dangerous riding is properly enforced.”

“E-bikes can only be used legally on the road if they meet the rules, with police able to take action against those that don’t.”

The government said it would bring forward legislation to regulate e-scooters when parliamentary time allows.

The consultation, expected within the next year, will consider measures including registration, insurance and licensing.

It added that enforcement of illegal e-scooter use remains the responsibility of the police, supported by new powers under the Crime and Policing Act 2026, which allows officers to stop and seize vehicles being used illegally without first issuing a warning.

The Act also introduces Respect Orders, enabling the police and local councils to ban persistent offenders from areas where they repeatedly cause harm.