The National Police Air Service plane spent several hours circling over the city on September 2 as it assisted officers on the ground, a city council meeting has heardJonathon Hill News reporter, Nicholas Thomas and Local Democracy Reporter
18:27, 27 Sep 2025
The National Police Air Service aircraft used to counter crime in Newport earlier this month (Image: NPAS)
The use of a police aircraft over Newport has proved successful for officers tackling illegal electric bikes and scooters, city councillors have been told. The aircraft, which forms part of the National Police Air Service fleet, was observed conducting operations above the city on Tuesday, September 2.
It remained airborne between five and six hours patrolling sections of Newport that day in what has been described as “a really good use of modern-day technology” to support officers on the ground.
Temporary chief superintendent Jason White, Gwent Police’s head of neighbourhood policing, said the aircraft was utilised “to really good effect” to focus on illegal e-bikes and e-scooters. Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here
At present legislation forbids the use of e-scooters and e-bikes that are not pedal-assisted or exceed specific wattage limits on public highways and land.
During a city council meeting, Chief Superintendent White revealed the aircraft’s deployment had resulted in “some excellent arrests” on the ground.
“What the plane also gave us – not just that day but the subsequent days and weeks – is the ability to capture other people using [illegal] bikes, where they then noticed where they were residing, so the team… was then going retrospectively to those houses and seizing those bikes,” he explained.
City councillors heard the success of the plane in the hours it was in the air on September 2 proved quite the feat(Image: NPAS)
Earlier this year Gwent Police deployed drones to pursue a group of bikers through the Alway and Ringland areas, ultimately confiscating one of the bikes.
Speaking at this week’s meeting, city council leader Cllr Dimitri Batrouni said the use of aerial surveillance was “making a real impact” on tracking illegal e-bike and e-scooter riders.
“I’m sure all of us will hear residents talk about those bikes – youths on those bikes with hoods and masks going around the city basically and making people feel intimidated,” he told those in the council chamber.
Following the September 2 operation, Gwent Police neighbourhood inspector Roland Giles said he wanted to “reassure residents that we’re listening to your concerns and are acutely aware of the impact that the illegal use of off-road bikes can have on our communities”.
He added: “We need to know when and where these bikes are being used, and also where they are being stored so that we can seize the machines being driven illegally.”
If you have any concerns about off-road bikes or the sale and supply of illegal drugs in your area, you can get in touch with Gwent Police. You can contact them through their website, by dialling 101, or by sending a direct message to their Facebook or X social media pages. Alternatively, if you wish to remain anonymous, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 to share any information you may have.
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