More than 15,000 unsafe “hoverboards” have been seized at British ports in recent months – amid fears about the fire risk posed by this year’s must-have Christmas gift.
Trading standards officers have impounded almost 90 per cent of the 17,000 self-balancing scooters they examined at UK borders since 15 October because of safety concerns.
Lord Toby Harris, chair of National Trading Standards (NTS), said: “Our teams have seen a significant spike in the number of unsafe ‘hoverboards’ arriving at national entry points in recent weeks and are working around the clock to prevent dangerous items from entering the supply chain.”
The scooters, which can reach speeds of up to 10 mph, have become popular in the past few months after celebrities such as Justin Bieber and footballer Mario Balotelli were pictured using them.
The safety risks posed by the boards include issues with the plug, cabling, charger, battery and cut-off switch.
Many of the items were found to have non-compliant plugs without fuses, increasing the risk of devices overheating, exploding or catching fire. There have been dozens of reports from across the UK of the boards catching alight.
“We suspect most of these products are being imported for onward sale domestically as Christmas approaches,” said Lord Harris.
“We urge consumers to be on their guard when purchasing these products and advise you read our product safety checklist to help ensure you are not purchasing a dangerous item.”
In October, the Crown Prosecution Service announced that it was illegal to ride self-balancing boards on the road or the pavement.
With the demand for hoverboards increasing in the run-up to Christmas, the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) has warned that consumers may be tempted to buy cheaper, poorer-quality brands online, which are more likely to break and cause damage.
“Criminals and irresponsible manufacturers will often exploit high demand and attempt to flood the market with cheap and dangerous products,” said CTSI chief executive Leon Livermore.
