Two changes in summer 2026
Two dates matter. On 29 June 2026 the warning step was removed from the Section 59 seizure power in the Police Reform Act 2002, so police can now seize a vehicle being used anti-socially the first time, with no warning beforehand. Then on 22 July 2026 the time police must keep an unclaimed seized vehicle before disposing of it was cut, in many cases to 7 days.
Both apply to every kind of motor vehicle. Owners of off-road electric bikes feel them most, because there's nowhere public a standard Sur-Ron can legally go. A Talaria is in the same position.
Most Sur-Ron, Talaria, Stark Varg and E Ride Pro models are not road legal. They're for private land with the landowner's permission, and tracks. We never suggest riding a non-road-legal bike on public roads.
What the Section 59 power covers
The Police Reform Act 2002, s59 gives a uniformed police officer powers over a motor vehicle they reasonably believe is being, or has been, used in a way that:
- breaks section 3 (careless and inconsiderate driving) or section 34 (driving off-road without lawful authority, including on footpaths and bridleways) of the Road Traffic Act 1988, and
- causes, or is likely to cause, alarm, distress or annoyance to members of the public.
First, the officer can order the rider to stop. They can then seize the vehicle and take it away, going onto premises to do it if necessary (though not into a home). Reasonable force is allowed. Failing to stop when ordered is a separate offence.
"Motor vehicle" here means any mechanically propelled vehicle. It doesn't matter if it was never meant for the road, so off-road e-bikes are covered. Pit bikes and quads too. Quads have their own registration rules on top, set out in our guide to when a quad can legally use the road.
What the Crime and Policing Act 2026 changed
The Crime and Policing Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026. Two changes followed that matter to riders.
No warning needed first (from 29 June 2026)
Before, Section 59 said an officer normally had to warn the rider that the vehicle would be seized if the behaviour continued or was repeated. There were exceptions, for example where a warning had been given to that person in the previous 12 months, or where giving one wasn't practicable. Section 8 of the Act deleted the warning rules (subsections 4 and 5). It took effect on 29 June 2026 under SI 2026/689. It only applies to riding on or after that date.
Shorter retention before disposal (from 22 July 2026)
The Removal, Storage and Disposal of Motor Vehicles Timeframes (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (SI 2026/704) came into force on 22 July 2026. They cover Section 59 seizures and no-licence or no-insurance seizures. Other police vehicle removals are caught too. Periods that used to be 7 working days, 14 days, 21 days or 3 months are now 7 days. The government's explanatory note says the aim is to allow disposal at the end of 7 days from seizure or from a notice to collect. Vehicles seized before 22 July 2026 stay on the old timings.
In practice, an owner who doesn't act quickly can lose the bike for good. Disposal can mean crushing.
Other ways bikes get seized
No insurance or licence: section 165A
Under RTA 1988 section 165A, an officer who reasonably believes a vehicle is being driven with no valid licence or no insurance can seize it. Ride a standard off-road e-bike in a public place and you'll have neither, since no one can register or insure it for the road. This power has been around since 2005 and wasn't changed this year, apart from the shorter disposal times.
Stolen or suspected stolen
Police can also take a bike they believe is stolen. Once it's confirmed stolen, it goes back to its owner. Whoever was riding it has no claim. Off-road bikes are stolen often, so police check frame numbers.
Local councils add their own layer. A Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) can ban nuisance riding in named areas, with fines for breaking it, and police use their seizure powers alongside.
Getting a seized bike back
When police seize a vehicle they give the owner a seizure notice where they can. It says where the vehicle is kept and the date by which to claim it. To get it back under the Section 59 retention rules, you have to:
- prove you're the owner (police can look at documents such as a receipt), and
- pay the removal and storage charges, which build up daily.
For a no-licence or no-insurance seizure, the 2005 retention rules add a further step: you also have to produce a licence and insurance that cover driving the vehicle, or nominate someone who can. With an off-road e-bike that no insurer will cover on the road, you'll struggle to meet it.
Was someone else riding your bike without your knowledge or consent? If you couldn't reasonably have stopped them, the rules say you don't have to pay the Section 59 charges. You'll still need to prove you own it. Either way, contact the police force quickly. With 7-day timeframes, waiting isn't an option.
What this means in Kent
Kent Police already use these powers. On 10 August 2026, Gravesham Borough Council reported that more than 40 nuisance e-bikes and e-scooters had been seized across the borough since the start of July, and that more than 20 had since been crushed. That followed a borough-wide PSPO on nuisance vehicles, with Kent Police running days of action in local hotspots.
Kent Police policy on seizing anti-social vehicles
Kent Police publishes a policy on seizures of vehicles used in an anti-social manner (reference O35c). Check it for how the force applies Section 59 locally, as it may be updated to reflect the 2026 changes.
Live in Kent with an off-road bike and nowhere private to ride it? Then the realistic choice is between finding legal land or a track, and selling the bike.
If you want out: selling it legally
Owning and selling an off-road e-bike is legal. Selling is a clean way out for a bike that sits in the shed because there's nowhere lawful to ride it. Rather keep it? Our guide on where a Sur-Ron can legally be ridden sets out the options.
We buy electric dirt bikes of every make, modified or not. That includes Sur-Rons and Talarias. No bike is paid for until we've seen photo ID and proof of purchase and matched the frame number to them. A bike in a police pound, or one the seller can't prove is theirs, is one we'll turn down. Otherwise, send us your bike's details for an offer inside 24 hours. Collection is free, and the transfer reaches your account before the bike is loaded.
This page explains police seizure powers in England and Wales in general terms. It isn't legal advice on a particular seizure, and if your bike has been taken you should contact the force holding it straight away. Seizure law changed twice in 2026 and could change again, so check the linked legislation and your police force's own guidance. Last checked against legislation.gov.uk on 27 September 2026, and reviewed monthly while the new rules bed in.