Stolen car stung by officers after 125mph police chase

Officers from Lancashire Police used a stinger device to stop a Ford Fiesta after a 125mph police chase.

Initially reported stolen in St Helens, officers discovered the vehicle in Southport resulting in a high-speed police chase.

The car’s three occupants escaped after the vehicle was brought to a halt.

A battery drill and pliers, likely to be used for burglaries, say police, were recovered. The car keys were later found by officers searching the area, with the vehicle to be returned to its rightful owner.

The car was one of close to 150 vehicles that have been seized by police in the past week as Lancashire Police crackdown on those people breaking the law on the county’s roads.

Officers have conducted numerous traffic stops and vehicle checks, as well as using automatic number plate recognition systems to take dozens of cars, motorbikes and vans off the streets.

Between midnight on Friday (April 15) and yesterday (Thursday, April 21), 146 vehicles have been seized by police for various offences, including:
– 83 vehicles under Section 99 Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (Abandoned vehicles). This offence also covers the recovery of stolen vehicles.
– 52 vehicles under Section 165a of the Road Traffic Act 1988. This means an officer had reasonable grounds to believe the driver was uninsured, or not driving in accordance with their licence.
– 5 vehicles under Section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002. The officer has reasonable grounds to suspect the driver drove in an anti-social matter.
– 6 vehicles related to ongoing criminal matters.

Supt Melita Worswick, Operations Manager at Lancashire Police, said: “Over the last few weeks proactive work from officers has resulted in a number of police pursuits, resulting in stolen vehicles being returned to owners, offenders arrested and equipment potentially planned to be used to commit crime being seized. This has no doubt prevented a number of people from becoming a victim of crime.

“We know many drivers have concerns about those using the road network to break the law and these results show we have taken robust action.

“Our message is clear; if you use our roads illegally or to commit crimes, you can expect a swift and firm police response.”