Chief Supt Simon Ovens said buying an e-scooter as a present was "crazy" because "they're simply not built for our roads."
It’s only legal to use a non-rented e-scooter on private land.
Those caught could face a £300 fine, points on their driving licence or have the device seized.
E-scooters made headlines in July 2019 after Youtuber Emily Hartridge died in Battersea when she was involved in a collision with a lorry.