The public are not behind Essex Police’s struggle to keep on top of the rise of illegally ridden e-scooters, a police chief has said.

Acting Chief Inspector Martin Richards, who is the Tendring district commander, told a Tendring Council meeting the level of illegally-ridden scooters by children has concerned officers.

However, he said parents say officers should focus on other work.

Essex  has seen an explosion in the number of e-scooters but only those run by Spin, licensed as part of government trials, are legally allowed to be driven on the public highway.

Responding to concerns raised in Tendring Council’s community leadership overview and scrutiny committee, Mr Richards said: “I share your frustration but the bottom line is I have to work in the guidance that is proportionate and given to me.

“If we are talking about children on e-scooters then for me we follow the guidance which is we take the scooter and the child home and we have a conversation with the parents.

“But we police by consent. And the consent of the community is not behind Essex Police on children using e-scooters and I am frustrated this is the case.”

In June, Essex Police launched an initiative aimed at owners and riders of privately-owned e-scooters used in public areas.

By educating riders and encouraging them not to use privately-owned e-scooters in a public area, Essex Police said it hoped the number of e-scooters being used illegally, and any perceived anti-social behaviour, will be reduced.

Mr Richards said: “The community is not behind us on this.

“Most of the scooters are being used by youths. I need to get the buy-in from the parents.

“We are going to the schools, having conversations with schools, we are putting a lot of literature out there.

“We are pleading with parents on our Facebook and on our social media and the backlash we are getting is ‘Go and do something more’.”