A Birmingham delivery cyclist who rides a council-funded scheme e-bike saw the legally registered bike seized and crushed by police in the course of an inspection.
Officers proceeded after citing a lack of current insurance paperwork, despite the rider had already passed a previous valid test for the same documents.
The rider’s bike was part of a city-supported hire program, yet it was destroyed in what the cyclist described as a "bogus" inspection.
Police later admitted the seizure was an error because of incorrect paperwork being shown on the day.
The incident has sparked concerns for local delivery workers about the security of council‑run e‑bike schemes.
Advocacy groups are calling for clearer guidelines and better communication to avoid similar incidents.
The council has said it will review its procedures as well as work with police to make sure future inspections are fair.
Meanwhile, the cyclist faces the loss of a valuable vehicle.