Do not buy your children an e-scooter for Christmas.

That is the message from Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott, who adds: “They are not legal on public roads, they are dangerous - do not waste your money on one.”

But despite his warnings, thousands of e-scooters are expected to be purchased by parents this festive season - with more than a million already on UK streets.

At Halford’s, the best-seller is a Globber E-Motion 6, available for £120. Meanwhile, the highest-priced is the Pure Advance Flex Platinum Silver at £1,099 - highlighting just how much people are willing to pay for a vehicle which is illegal on public roads.

Figures obtained by KentOnline reveal 81 e-scooters have been seized in the county this year - with the most in Swale at 31. None have been seized in either Dartford or Sevenoaks.

Mr Scott said: “If you’ve got an e-scooter, don’t ride it on public roads because there is a risk that the police are going to take it away.

“As much as children might want one of these devices, I’m sorry but I’m going to have to be the Grinch at Christmas and say: ‘No, you can’t have one.’

“In the context of road safety, I absolutely agree an e-scooter is one of the most dangerous things that are available out there because there are very few safety standards around the manufacturing of e-scooters. Also, you’ve got the massive risk around a potential fire if you’re buying them online and know nothing about the sources, the power issues and charging of them.

“E-scooters are not legal on Kent’s roads and pavements. Please do not waste your money buying anyone an e-scooter because they can’t use it on public land.”

Mr Scott admits there is much confusion about the law on e-scooters, partly as a result of pilot programmes, like the one launched in Canterbury in 2020. It allowed devices which were part of the scheme - owned by a company called Bird - to be rented and used across the city.

Despite public safety fears, the pilot was extended twice.

But last year, 80-year-old Sarah Carter was left with broken bones after being hit by one of the Bird e-scooters - and branded the devices “lethal”.

The pilot was finally brought to a close in 2022 after Kent County Council (KCC) rejected an offer from the Department for Transport to continue the trial until May 2024.

Mr Scott said: “People ask ‘how come I can go to London and rent one’, which I think is at the heart of the confusion. Because of these public rental schemes, people believe they are legal when they’re not.

“There’s a lot of confusion around the law on e-scooters as a result of some of these pilot programmes.

“I’m pleased that KCC has listened and hasn’t extended the e-scooter program that we had in this county.”

Statistics show that electric scooters were involved in 1,352 collisions in Great Britain in 2021, up from 460 a year earlier.

There have been a number of crashes in Kent.

Pauline Lilford suffered a broken leg and arm after being knocked down by a privately-owned e-scooter in Canterbury in 2020. The student who was riding the device was handed a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and driving without a licence.

Last month, police launched an appeal after a woman in Gravesend was hit by an e-scooter, while a man was arrested after a woman had to be taken to hospital after being hit by one in the town in May.

Fifteen-year-old e-scooter rider Kieran Byrne died after colliding with a BMW in Coxheath earlier this year.

Mr Scott added: “Tragically, there has been a rise in the number of road traffic collisions involving e-scooters, which was unfortunately bound to happen given the increase of them on the roads and my thoughts are with the families of those who have been affected by these incidents because they are still tragedies.

“We need to make sure everyone feels safe on the road at the end of the day.”

Peter New, a Kent Police volunteer and community neighbourhood watch coordinator, also fears a rise in the number of e-scooters on the road after the festive period.

He said: “We are going into Christmas - will people be buying them out of ignorance? Probably.

“There’s a frustration too in the community that some people will say they saw an e-scooter go past a police car and nothing was done.

“A grown-up debate needs to be had or else, this Christmas people will buy them in ignorance.

“Just be careful what you’re buying, especially if it’s for a young person.”

Mr New says shops also have a role to play in ensuring customers know what they are buying.

A spokesperson from EnviroRides, an independent e-scooter store in Ashford, says customers are given clear guidance explaining the current laws.

“Electric transport is a must for some people who struggle to get to a from their desired location, especially today with the increased cost of living, and increased cutting of our public transport sector,” they said.

“We have a duty to inform any possible customer of the rules and regulations regarding e-scooters.”

But it’s not just on Kent’s roads that the electric vehicles are causing concern.

As of June 1, Southeastern banned e-scooters from being taken on board services following concerns over the batteries catching fire.

The dangers were highlighted when a flat fire in Sheerness was sparked by an e-scooter battery.

The occupant, Kevin Record, suffered life-changing burns while his hero dog Shogun, who alerted him to the blaze, tragically died.

Meanwhile, some youngsters are even using e-scooters to travel to school – despite the prospect of having points added to their licence if caught.

A few months ago, Ashford police officer Adam Staughton, shared a statement online about a boy spotted on one of the devices - which was seized and given to the pupil’s parents.

“Young persons risk having points endorsements added to their licence before they have even applied for a provisional licence when they want to start driving in the future,” he warned.

“This licence in the meantime is held as a 'ghost licence’ on the national computer drivers licence database, and then when they apply for their provisional, any points they have accumulated are transferred over. This obviously can affect their insurance costs and affordability to drive.”

E-scooters are classed as motor vehicles, meaning they need to be taxed and insured and Kent Police says anyone using an e-scooter incorrectly could see it seized.

Superintendent Pete Steenhuis, head of prevention at Kent Police, said: “Our priority is keeping the public safe and that means we will take proportionate action on the riders of e-scooters where necessary.

“Police officers across the county have engaged with individuals on the street and in schools to provide advice. Should an officer come across an e-scooter being used incorrectly, they will first seek to educate the rider and encourage them to adhere to the legislation. This approach has helped to educate people, especially young people, about the dangers of their use.

“Under current legislation, e-scooters cannot be used in public unless a government trial is in place. We would therefore urge anyone interested in buying such a vehicle including parents ahead of Christmas to familiarise themselves with the legislation.

“If riders refuse to follow advice, or if they are seen using an e-scooter in a dangerous or antisocial manner, we will use our powers to seize the vehicle and take further enforcement action where appropriate.”