With the rapid growth of electric bicycles and other small electric vehicles on UK roads, Police Officers and staff are increasingly required to understand the legal definitions of compliant e-bikes, recognise illegal models, and manage the risks associated with seizure, transport and storage – particularly in relation to lithium-ion batteries.

The new programme, delivered from The Leys College in Oxfordshire, has been developed to address this growing operational need, providing formal off-site training designed specifically for Police enforcement, forensics and logistics teams and helping forces across the UK stay up to date with best practice of dealing with modern e-bike technology.

Endorsed by the Association of Cycle Traders

Activate Cycle Academy is one of the UK’s leading training providers for bicycle mechanics and has delivered e-bike-specific training to the cycle trade for many years. The Academy’s courses are endorsed by the Association of Cycle Traders (ACT), which operates the national accreditation scheme (Cytech) for trained mechanics and alongside the Bicycle Association, co-leads the UK-wide E-Bike Positive campaign promoting safe and compliant e-bike use.

Activate Cycle Academy has recently worked with the Metropolitan Police to deliver e-bike training and has received interest from several other forces seeking to upskill staff as illegal and modified electric bikes become more widespread.

Matt Grant at Activate Cycle Academy, said: “This course will support Police Officers with the knowledge and confidence to apply the latest laws and safety guidance in their work. With e-bike use increasing, it is essential that policing teams have access to consistent, up-to-date training.”

Jonathan Harrison, Director of the Association of Cycle Traders (ACT), said: “E-bikes are a fantastic, healthy, and sustainable mode of transport, but it’s crucial that we continue to educate consumers and the Police who enforce their safe use on the streets. At the ACT, we are working hard to ensure clear distinctions are made between legal e-bikes and non-compliant vehicles, helping to protect both riders and the wider public.”

“It’s great to see our longest-standing Cytech training provider, Activate Cycle Academy, working to deliver this training to the various Police forces across the country, equipping officers with the skills and knowledge needed to deal with both non-compliant and genuine, compliant e-bikes.”

Supporting enforcement and public safety 

The course is aimed at Police Officers, PCSOs and logistics staff involved in the seizure, scrutiny, transport and storage of e-bikes and other small electric vehicles.

It focuses on safety, guidance and operational best practice for policing teams, improving awareness of the laws surrounding e-bike usage in the UK and supporting forces in enforcement activity while also ensuring members of the public are signposted towards reputable brands and compliant retailers.

Training also highlights the safety risks posed by unsafe or modified e-bikes and batteries, particularly where vehicles fall outside EAPC regulations.

Course content 

The programme covers a wide range of practical and legislative topics, including:

• UK legislation under EAPC standards
• Understanding modern compliant e-bikes and identifying non-compliant models
• Core e-bike components, including motors, batteries and control systems
• Lithium-ion battery fundamentals and risk management
• Best practice for handling bikes, plus risk management of storage and transport procedures
• Battery removal from compliant/intelligent e-bikes
• Identification of illegal or modified electric powered bicycles
• Case studies drawn from recent enforcement operations and media content
• Overview of the E-Bike Positive industry initiative

Battery safety forms a dedicated module, including best practice guidance on charging, storage, misuse risks and the provision and testing of battery storage systems currently available on the market.

Training outcomes 

By the end of the course, attendees will be able to:

• Identify illegal or non-compliant e-bikes through observation, inspection and key features
• Recognise unsafe components and potential hazards
• Understand the key laws governing e-bike use on UK roads
• Distinguish between “legal” (compliant with EAPC regulations) e-bikes and “illegal” (non-compliant with EAPC regulations) electric powered bicycles
• Safely remove batteries from compliant/intelligent e-bikes
• Identify and manage risks associated with handling and storage of e-bikes and lithium-ion batteries
• Know how to identify E-Bike Positive brands and retailers and signpost riders to these
• Use a static speed measuring device (Wenger E-speed Control dyno)

The course is available to Police forces nationwide, with opportunities for progression into more specialist training, including the full Cytech Technical E-bike course for roles requiring deeper diagnostic and inspection expertise (this would be recommended for Forensic Collision Investigation units).

For more information or to discuss training for your force, please visit the Activate Cycle Academy website or contact Matt Grant, Head of Sales at Activate Cycle Academy, via email at cycles@activatelearning.ac.uk  or via phone on 01865 550 324.