Dramatic videos show Met Police e-bike chases as force expands fleet in crackdown on phone theft

The lightweight Sur-Ron bikes allow officers to keep up with criminals, navigating narrow streets and staircases to catch criminals in places that would be inaccessible by car. In one incident, bodyworn video footage captured on August 21, shows an officer on a Sur-Ron e-bike chasing a moped rider through traffic and into a housing estate. Read MoreThe moped rider was evading police at a vehicle stop site when he was pursued by the e-bike officer. Footage shows the officer weaving through traffic and speeding through residential streets. The officer chased the suspect using a Sur-Ron e-bikeMet PoliceThe suspect took off on foot after falling off the mopedMet PoliceThe suspect then falls off the moped and flees on foot. But the officer is relentless in chasing the suspect, eventually stopping him as he attempts to jump over a railing. Upon being arrested, the suspect was found in possession of a significant quantity of Class A drugs and turned out to be a disqualified driver riding a moped with false plates. The force said its deployment of the Sur-Ron e-bikes has helped to reduce phone theft by more than 13,000 offences across London in the last year. The bikes have a top speed of 59mph and can accelerate from zero to 50mph in just 3.7 seconds.The rollout is part of the Met’s efforts to reduce the number of criminals using e-bikes and causing fear on the streets. More than 2,500 illegal e-bikes and e-scooters have been seized so far. These bikes are often modified with high-powered batteries or are uninsured. Funding for the bikes came from profits taken from crime and was reinvested back into policing with support from the Home Office. Louise Puddefoot, Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Frontline Policing, said: “Expanding our Sur-Ron fleet gives officers another powerful tool to stay one step ahead of criminals. These bikes allow officers to move quickly through busy streets, access areas traditional vehicles cannot reach, respond faster to crime and arrest more suspects.“Criminals are using high-powered, often illegally modified e-bikes to commit offences such as phone theft and robbery. By expanding this capability, we have listened to our officers, giving them the tools they need to disrupt criminality and keep Londoners safe.“Londoners are already seeing the results of our relentless focus on tackling street crime, with neighbourhood crime down 14 per cent over the past year and 13,000 fewer phone thefts.”Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, said: "The Met’s new fleet of Sur-Ron e-bikes sends a clear message that London will not tolerate criminal behaviour. These bikes have been successfully helping the Met to go after offenders who are increasingly using high-powered, illegally modified e-bikes to commit crimes and it’s great to be able to expand the fleet."With record funding from City Hall, the Met are using the latest innovation and technology, alongside neighbourhood policing, to stay one step ahead of criminals. Working closely with the Met, I am committed to being tough on crime and building on the progress that we have seen in tackling robbery and phone thefts, as we build a safer London for everyone."