Driving and theft arrest after police pursuit in Highcliffe and Hurn

A POLICE pursuit through Christchurch resulted in a man being arrested in connection with driving offences and theft.

Dorset officers responded to an alert by Hampshire colleagues at around 7.45pm last Friday about a vehicle which failed to stop for them earlier that day.

It was believed to have crossed the county border.

They found the vehicle, believed to be linked to catalytic converter thefts, in the Upper Hinton Road area of Bournemouth three hours later.

However, it was then reportedly driven away from officers in the wrong direction around the Lansdowne Roundabout.

The pursuit was launched when it was seen in the Highcliffe area, and officers brought it to a stop in Hurn.

Its occupants fled on foot, and officers combed the area, helped by a National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopter.

They ultimately arrested a 21-year-old Bournemouth man on suspicion of driving offences and theft from a motor vehicle. He was later bailed pending further enquiries.

Ch. Insp. Andy Edwards 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.”

PC Sebastian Haggett, of Dorset'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.”