ILLEGAL e-scooter riders are baiting police officers into dangerous pursuits so they can film the chase and post it online.
A Sun investigation found dozens of videos showing riders deliberately provoking officers into chasing them by riding recklessly through town centres and then attempting to escape.
Officers attempt to stop an illegal e-scooter rider in the middle of a road Credit: Supplied
E-scooter rider dodges capture from an officer on a pedal bike Credit: Supplied
The e-scooter menaces aim to get the officers to turn on their sirens, which they mockingly refer to as “party lights” and then evade capture by deploying perilous tactics.
In scenes reminiscent of the popular video game Grand Theft Auto, the riders record themselves escaping police by weaving through traffic and racing through built-up areas, putting lives at risk.
Helmet-mounted cameras capture the chases before the riders edit the footage with commentary, internet memes and comedy sound effects to mock the officers.
The videos are then shared across various social media platforms where some rack up millions of views.
E-scooter rider points and goads police officers after slipping into a park Credit: Supplied
Another e-scooter rider provokes officers into a chase Credit: Supplied
An e-scooter rider deliberately passes a police car waiting at a red light to provoke a chase Credit: Supplied
E-scooter rider puts a stopwatch in corner of screen to boast how quickly they escaped Credit: Supplied
The dangerous content is deliberately filmed to outrage some users online, while many others applaud their illegal activities and watch the content as a form of entertainment.
All forms of engagement, positive or negative, are well-received by the riders who seek local notoriety as well as ‘likes’ and ‘follows’ on their social media accounts, which encourages them to record even more extreme footage.
In one video, the rider mounts a pavement in front of a police van and waves at the officers inside, but is left disappointed when they don’t blue light him.
The rider brazenly includes the caption on-screen: “Officers turn your lights on. I need content”.
The rider on a pavement is left disappointed when police don’t turn on their blue lights. Credit: Supplied
Another police van goaded into a pursuit across town Credit: Supplied
Another user even put a stopwatch on the screen to boast how quickly they managed to escape the pursuit.
All of the e-scooter riders regularly evade capture by manoeuvring through static traffic, performing an almost-instant u-turn or disappearing through narrow alleyways, bollards or footpaths.
Some of the riders film themselves clocking speeds of up to 45mph while being chased.
Legal rental e-scooters are limited to just 15.5mph. But privately-owned models which remain illegal on the UK’s public roads and pavements, can reach speeds of up to 68mph.
Their remarkable speed but limited safety protections expose riders and their passengers to if they fall or collide with other vehicles.
Official data shows 10 people were killed and 1,484 injured in e-scooter collisions last year.
Earlier this week, a 15-year-old boy received a youth referral order and driving ban after pleading guilty to causing the death of 14-year-old , who was riding as a passenger on his e-scooter when it collided with a car in March 2025.
The case highlights the dangers posed by the vehicles and why police forces across the country have upped seizures of privately-owned e-scooters in recent years.
Jacob Calland sadly died aged 14
His mother has now started Jacob’s Journey in his memory Credit: Greater Manchester Police
The Sun’s investigation into illegal e-scooters has uncovered that more than 5,200 have been seized over the past 3 years, but there’s thought to be a whopping 1million wreaking havoc on Britain’s streets.
One of the most notorious e-scooter riders, who The Sun is not naming, has tormented Derbyshire Police for months and put many local residents’ lives at risk.
In a number of videos posted by the individual, they can be seen deliberately overtaking police vehicles or speeding through red lights in front of them in the hope of provoking a pursuit.
After a brief chase by police, the rider deploys a series of reckless driving techniques to evade capture and often escapes by disappearing down alleyways or footpaths police vehicles cannot access.
Speaking to The Sun, a Derbyshire Police spokesperson said: “Many people riding these scooters may not have realised the legal implications and, as well as the enforcement, we have carried out significant public engagement work to highlight where they cannot be ridden legally.
“However, individuals such as this are not simply using this as a method of transport, rather they are using this to increase their social media fame.
“In doing so, they are putting the public, as well as themselves, at really serious risk.
“We have seen deaths because of collisions involving e-scooters and pedestrians and it is clear that people riding, particularly in the manner seen on videos online, could be fatal.
“The dangers that individuals present to themselves, the public and to officers is significant and we will, where appropriate, always look to prosecute people to the fullest extent, especially when they are behaving in a dangerous manner.”
Following The Sun’s investigation, TikTok has removed the videos and accounts highlighted for violating its community guidelines.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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