Police face backlash after seizing e-scooter from mum after she took child to school on it
A police force in Gloucestershire has been criticised after posting a video of officers seizing an e-scooter from a mother and her child.
The incident occurred in Stroud and showed officers stopping the mum and child after they were seen riding the electric device. It's believed the pair were on their way to school.
"Concerns were raised regarding a female using an e scooter to transport a young child on a daily basis," the post explained.
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"OT61 attended and observed 4 yr old being transported in this way and vehicle seized.
"Thanks to the public for making us aware. Safer community."
In the clip, officers appear to be seen driving behind the electric scooter as it made its way down the pavement.
And people on Twitter were quick to criticise the force, with one even thinking the account was a parody page.
They wrote: "Please tell me you’re a parody account."
While another said: "Would go faster and less safe on a regular scooter. this is flipping daft."
And a third added: "The speed the mother is going would merely graze them and that's even if they would ever injure at 5-7mph. I suggest, you post about the dangerous use of these scooters and not publicly shame a mother and daughter for all to see."
Meanwhile, a fourth commented: "Imagine getting in trouble for taking the fun way home. Good on mum I say. Better than taking a car, parking up on all the pavements waiting for little 1 to come out, parking over zigzags, traffic etc... Imagine being that person who reports this."
"Of all the ways four year olds are put at risk on our roads, *this* is where you take action? Very strange world we live in," someone else said.
While electric scooters are legal to own in the UK, there are restrictions over where they can be used.
Current law dictates that they can only be used on private land (with the landowner’s permission). It is illegal to use them on public roads, pavements, cycle lanes and pedestrian zones.
This is because they have the same rules as motor vehicles and would only be legal to use on the roads if they met the same requirements - for example, tax, insurance and licensing.
Tyla has contacted Gloucestershire Police for comment.
Lucy Devine