The e scooter experiment is failing following 15 deaths linked to the devices, Kent's Police and Crime Commissioner has argued.

Matthew Scott also cites combusting lithium batteries and shoddy infrastructure within pilot schemes, such as the one in Canterbury, as reasons they should be scrapped.

"On safety grounds alone, the e scooter experiment needs to stop," Mr Scott said, adding they are placing strain on already stretched emergency services.

In a tweet headed 'death and serious injury', he said: "The parliamentary advisory council for transport safety report finds that 15 people have died in e scooter related incidents.

"They also found hospitals treating increasing numbers of people with severe head injuries. I’ve been told this by hospital consultants too."

He continued: "There are already concerns about the lithium ion batteries.

"The number of e scooter fires doubled last year. Fire and rescue services are already giving safety advice on them."

He also took issue with people illegally riding them on pavements, cycle lanes and roads, as well as creating “dangerous clutter for vulnerable pedestrians.”

“Due to the vast increase in private e-scooters being ridden illegally in public, there’s more seizures taking place,” he continued.

“And they’re dealing with criminal and antisocial use of the hire schemes.”

Mr Scott also argued speed limit caps are unsuitable solutions to the problem, with the devices easily modified. About 40 areas - including Canterbury - are already operating rental schemes.

The Covid pandemic brought the trials forward, because they offer people a way of getting around at a social distance.

The most powerful privately-owned e scooters can reach speeds of almost 70mph but rental e scooters have maximum limits of 15.5mph.

Some 100 of the 200 machines have been pulled from service after a number were damaged - with several targeted by louts wielding an angle grinder.

Last year student Joshua Mpia, 19, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving after crashing a privately-owned e scooter into mum-of-three Pauline Lilford in Canterbury.

The city's trial scheme is set to end on March 31.