Motorist ‘gave it legs’ across field after police use Stinger to stop his BMW - 12 arrested during crime clampdown

A driver tried to flee across a field after police used a Stinger device to stop his car during a major cross border Joint Agency Task Force operation focusing on rural crime.
By Jonathan McCambridge
Published 18th Feb 2021, 13:50 BST
Updated 18th Feb 2021, 14:33 BST
The BMW seized by policeThe BMW seized by police
The BMW seized by police

The PSNI took to Facebook to describe what happened during the incident on Wednesday night.

They posted: “ANPR Interceptor Team officers assisted crews from Police Newry, Mourne & Down, Police Armagh, Banbridge & Craigavon, Tactical Support Group and our colleagues from An Garda Síochána in a Cross border operation earlier this evening.

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“One incident of note was this Silver BMW failing to stop for Police in the Forkhill area, the vehicle was brought to a safe controlled stop by the use of a Stinger device in order to prevent the possibility of a pursuit.

“As the vehicle came to a halt the driver decided they would take their chances and ‘gave it legs’ across the nearby field, luckily for them they saw sense and gave themselves up to a nearby patrol just before one of our lovely Belgian Malinois arrived to play hide and seek with the driver.

“As a result a 20 year old male was arrested on suspicion of a number of motoring offences.”

The local officers were working with colleagues in An Garda Síochána in the operation spanning border districts and involving officers from Neighbourhood and Local Policing Teams and Tactical Support Groups.

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Superintendent Alywin Barton said: “This operation reflects our ongoing efforts to reduce and prevent cross-border crime and disrupt the movements and activities of organised crime gangs.

“We recognise the harm caused in our local communities as a result of rural criminal activity and we are committed to working with our partners to keep everyone safe on both sides of the border.

“This operation involved high visibility patrols and coordinated activity to detect crime and provide reassurance to the public.

“As a result there were 12 arrests for offences including drink driving and warrants relating to ongoing investigations into drugs, burglary, theft, assault and criminal damage.

“There were eight drugs seizures with the largest being approximately £100 of suspected Class A and there were three vehicles seized when they were detected being driven with no insurance.”