Wednesday February 11th 2026
Midlothian Councillor Dianne Alexander
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Marie Sharp
A Midlothian councillor has called on police chiefs to consider selling seized electric and off road bikes to foreign countries rather than crushing them.
Councillor Dianne Alexander asked officers whether they could put the vehicles to better use adding it would be better for the environment as she called for more action against their illicit use.
And she suggested licensing the bikes or making insurance compulsory could also tackled the problem.
Speaking at a meeting of Midlothian Police, Fire and Rescue Board, Councillor Alexander said: ““E bikes and off road bikes are causing quite a lot of mayhem all over Scotland and I wondered if there is anything we can do. I get complaints from constituents saying it is causing such a hazard, they are going across playing fields etc.”
She added: “Is there a way the bikes can be insured and rather than have the bikes crushed could they not all be gathered together in one place in Scotland or Britain and then sold abroad because I know they are used extensively abroad and it is also a net zero issue as well.
“And because they are used in Europe extensively, what is the difference between their laws and the laws here that can allow people to use them legally and responsibly compared to here?
“What I am trying to say is if we made them legal and got them licensed properly etc then perhaps the criminal side of it would fall and everyone would be better off.”
The board heard from a Police Scotland representative that meetings were due to take place between the force and MSPs at Holyrood to discuss the legislation in place to tackle issues with the bikes which they said was ‘not fit for purpose’ at the moment.
However they said on the subject of selling seized bikes abroad that there would be health and safety issues adding: “if we are not in a position to check them mechanically and then try and flog them overseas what if someone has an accident on them because of a mechanical fault.
“I wouldn’t see that being a starter to be honest.”
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