Met Police expands e-bike patrol fleet to tackle phone snatchers
The London Metropolitan Police have expanded their fleet of high-powered electric motorbikes to combat phone snatchers and moped gangs. These vehicles allow officers to navigate dense traffic and restricted areas more effectively than traditional patrol cars.
Why it matters
The use of specialized e-bikes represents a tactical shift in urban policing to address modern, agile criminal methods in congested cities.
Image source, Metropolitan Police Image caption, The Sur-Ron bikes are being used in several inner London boroughs
London home affairs correspondent Published 27 August 2026, 05:59 BST Updated 9 hours ago The Metropolitan Police has expanded its fleet of high-powered electric motorbikes from five to 25 as part of an ongoing crackdown on phone snatchers and moped gangs across London.
The lightweight vehicles allow officers to cut through heavy traffic, navigate narrow alleyways, and ride up staircases to catch suspects fleeing areas inaccessible to police cars or motorcycles.
The force said "targeted tactics" had helped drive down phone thefts across the capital by more than 13,000 offences over the past year.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Louise Puddefoot said the e-motorbike fleet was "a powerful tool to stay one step ahead of criminals".
Image source, Metropolitan Police Image caption, The Met says its fleet is helping target those on illegal e-bikes
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