Police car rammed after chase in Littleborough

Photo: Mark Harris

Police chase in Church Street, Littleborough

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A police chase ended in Church Street, Littleborough shortly before noon, after a Land Rover rammed a police car. Two men were detained by police.

Eyewitness, Mark Harris said: "A Land Rover that was chased through Littleborough then stopped, reversed and rammed the police car."

Officers from GMP’s Tactical Vehicle Intercept Unit (TVIU), who were in the Littleborough area due to a spate of thefts of 4x4s, spotted a stolen Land Rover.

The officers, in an unmarked Audi S3, followed the vehicle for a short time before it attempted to drive off.

During a pursuit that lasted a few minutes, the driver of the Land Rover repeatedly attempted to ram the Audi in an attempt to get away.

At one point the Land Rover damaged a Renault van belonging to a member of the public.

The driver and another man inside abandoned the Land Rover on Church Street, Littleborough

A 21-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of taking a motor vehicle and two counts of Section 18 Assault at the scene.

Another man, aged 22, was arrested on suspicion of the same offences nearby.

Chief Inspector Mark Dexter, said: “We have been patrolling across the Rochdale and Oldham area due to an increase in the theft of 4x4s.

“Because of this proactive work we have come across a stolen Land Rover and despite the significant efforts the driver went to to avoid his collar getting felt, two men have been arrested.

“The successful outcome of this incident, which resulted in no serious injury and two arrests, is down in no small part to the highly trained, skilled and dedicated officers involved.

“Officers in the TVIU are pursuit trained to the highest level and also adept at identifying stolen cars and hotspot areas where they are being utilised.

“It also shows that we will utilise the resources we have to tackle areas where we identify a pattern of crime or offending, such as the theft of 4x4s in this case.”

It is understood the police car has been written off after being repeatedly rammed.