Man arrested following police pursuit in Bournemouth and Christchurch areas
A man has been arrested on suspicion of driving offences and theft following a police pursuit in the Bournemouth and Christchurch areas.
Dorset Police received a report at around 7.45pm on Friday 4 November 2022 from colleagues in Hampshire that a vehicle that had reportedly failed to stop for their officers earlier in the day and was believed to have travelled into Dorset.
Following enquiries, the vehicle – which was believed to be linked to catalytic converter thefts – was located at around 10.45pm in the area of Upper Hinton Road. It was reported that the vehicle made off from officers and drove the wrong way round the Lansdowne Roundabout.
The vehicle was subsequently seen by officers in the Highcliffe area and a pursuit was commenced. It was brought to a stop by officers in the Hurn Village area.
The occupants of the vehicle reportedly left the vehicle on foot and a search of the area was carried out, with assistance from the NPAS helicopter.
A 21-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of driving offences and theft from a motor vehicle. He has been released on police bail as enquiries continue.
Chief Inspector Andy Edwards, of Dorset Police, said: “This incident involved collaboration across the county border with our colleagues in Hampshire and a number of police assets were involved in the search, including response officers, pursuit-trained traffic officers and the NPAS helicopter.
“This demonstrates how we will work with other forces and use all resources available to us to relentlessly pursue those suspected of being involved in criminal offences.”
Police Constable Sebastian Haggett, of Dorset Police’s Rural Crime Team, added: “The vehicle was identified through cross border intelligence sharing with Hampshire as a result of the strong relationships we have built following recent successful operations.”