Police in Hampshire have vowed to crush e-scooters and e-motorcycles as part of a crackdown on anti-social behaviour. 

Hampshire Constabulary has launched Operation Crush which will give officers the power to start crushing the electric vehicles if they're being used to commit crimes. 

The operation will target those using the vehicles illegally, those persistently involved in anti-social behaviour and those putting themselves and others at risk. 

It comes as the force has seen a "steady increase" in the popularity of privately owned, powered, two-wheel vehicles.

This has then led to a rise in them being used for crime and causing danger to others. 

READ MORE: Sway in New Forest hit by spree of overnight thefts

Inspector Andy Tester said: “Given the difficulties there can be stopping these vehicles and identifying the riders, we have noticed them becoming really popular with those committing a variety of different crimes, including those involved in drugs gangs.

“While we will always try and engage with people first and educate them about the laws around these vehicles.

"Unfortunately, not everyone is willing to listen to us and refuse to heed our warnings.

“So, we realised we needed to deploy tougher tactics for those persistent offenders and looked at how we can use existing legislation to offer more of a deterrence.

“This means that whenever our officers deal with a crime involving e-scooters and other P2WVs, they will have another option to consider and where proportionate, this could end up with a disposal notice being served and the vehicle being crushed.

“We hope that this action shows our communities that we have listened to their concerns about the rising use of these e-scooters and e-motorcycles being ridden dangerously or being used to carry out crime and anti-social behaviour.

“We believed that this change in policy will help clamp down on those committing numerous offences with these vehicles and act as a significant deterrent.

"We know that the crushing of these vehicles will disrupt criminal activity because they will need to spend more money to buy replacement vehicles.

"Some of the electric motorcycles used by criminals can cost several thousands of pounds, so this will have a significant impact on their operations. The police only have to be lucky once, they have to be lucky every time to not be caught.”