Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the police forces about the potential dangers of food couriers riding electric bicycles on pavements.

Ministers and officials meet representatives of police forces regularly to discuss a wide range of topics.

The Highway Code details the legal responsibilities of cyclists. In addition to the main offences of dangerous and careless cycling there are a variety of specific offences including cycling on the pavement for which police officers and Police Community Support Officers can issue £50 fixed penalty notice.

In addition, the Government is giving the police greater powers through the Crime and Policing Bill to clamp down on vehicles, including electric bicycles, used anti-socially and illegally with officers no longer required to issue a warning before seizing them.

The Government has also recently consulted on proposals to allow the police to dispose of seized vehicles which have been used anti-socially and illegally more quickly. The consultation closed on 8 July and the Government response will be published in due course.

These combined measures will help tackle the scourge of vehicles ridden anti-socially and illegally and send a clear message to would-be offenders and local communities that this behaviour will not be tolerated.