Police push thugs on mopeds to ground... using cars!
THE images are striking: police pushing moped thugs off their machines in a dramatic fightback against street crime.
By nudging fleeing criminals with their cars, specially trained officers in London tip them onto the ground – or even onto their bonnets.
The tough new tactics have been caught on extraordinary dashcam footage. Scotland Yard said the approach has helped cut crimes linked to two-wheeled vehicles by a third since January, falling from 19,000 to 12,500 compared with the same period last year.
The Metropolitan Police said deliberate collisions now happen almost every day in London, and are being rolled out across the UK to stop mopeds being the transport of choice for thugs.
Police chiefs are desperate to stop prolific criminals using stolen mopeds to grab phones, smash their way into luxury stores and escape crime scenes.
Sergeant Tony McGovern, described the contact made by specialist officers – known as ‘scorpion’ drivers – as a ‘slight nudge’. He said drivers must weigh up the risks to the public and the rider.
Stressing that officers try to reduce the speed of the chase first, he added: ‘It’s incredibly quick. Your decision-making changes in a split second.’
The tactic is controversial and will raise concerns that police are leaving themselves open to compensation claims.
Four years ago 18-year-old Henry Hicks died after he fell from a moped that was being pursued by police. Four officers were later cleared of gross misconduct.
Officers said some moped suspects are as young as 14 and have been recorded driving at up to 160kph.
Shocking CCTV has captured thieves dressed head-to-toe in black and armed with sledgehammers, axes and knives swarming their targets. Some have claimed up to 30 victims in an hour.
Describing suspects’ reaction to the new tactics, senior police officer Amanda Pearson said: ‘A lot of them get up and run away, looking aghast at “how dare we”.
‘There is a perception that if you remove your helmet or fail to stop we will not take any further course of action. This is untrue.’
Police officers are already using adapted ‘stinger’ devices to deflate mopeds’ tyres.
Officers are also spraying riders with a so-called ‘DNA spray’.
It is difficult to wash off and invisible in normal light – but shines under the UV lights used in police custody centres.
David Videcette, an ex-police detective, said: ‘The public just want to see police getting stuck in. It is heartening to see what is happening.’