A suspected drink-driver who is alleged to have stolen a car in Belfast has been arrested near Newry following a high-speed pursuit on the A1 this afternoon (Wednesday).
Police say they received a report at around 1.49pm that a man’s grey Volkswagen Passat CC had been stolen in the Tates Avenue area of Belfast.
Officers from the PSNI’s Auto Crime Team moved to the area where the vehicle was last seen and began following it as it travelled southbound on the A1 towards the border.
At approximately 2.15pm, in the Dromore area, officers from the Auto Crime Team – assisted by colleagues from the Armed Response Unit and Roads Policing Unit – attempted “pre-emptive tactics” to stop the vehicle. However, police say the car failed to stop and a high-speed pursuit was then carried out by specially trained officers.
As the vehicle approached Newry, within the vicinity of the Carnbane roundabout on-slip, the driver of the Passat allegedly attempted to turn and drive the wrong way along the on-slip towards the city.
Police say they then used “tactical contact” – where a police vehicle is used in a controlled way to stop another vehicle – to bring the car to a halt due to the “high risk” the manoeuvre posed to other road users. The Volkswagen was subsequently immobilised.
The driver was arrested by the Auto Crime Team on suspicion of several offences, including: Aggravated taking and driving away; Dangerous driving; Driving with excess alcohol; Driving whilst disqualified; No insurance; and Failing to stop for police.
He is currently in police custody.
Police say the swift action of officers likely prevented the suspect from leaving the jurisdiction and averted potential harm to other motorists had he continued further along the A1.
