Bodycam footage released by Kent Police captures the moment a van driver pulled over to assist an armed officer pursuing a suspect on 16 June. The driver shouted, “Get in the back. Get in the back,” as the officer jumped into the vehicle.
Officer directs driver during pursuit
With the sliding door still open, the officer urged, “Go, go, go! Cheers buddy. Follow that police officer.” As the driver sped off, the officer instructed, “Just go past him. Keep going past him.” The motorist, driving at high speed, was cautioned by the officer: “Don’t crash,” to which the driver replied, “I won’t crash, sir.”
Suspect arrested after chase
According to Kent Police, the officer was chasing a suspect who had fled a property in Margate after an alleged serious assault and ran into a park to evade capture. The suspect was “close to losing patrols” until the “responsible and public-spirited driver” intervened. The footage shows the driver pulling over after overtaking the suspect, where the officer jumps out and orders, “Don’t move. Put your hands on your head.” The suspect was then arrested.
Driver praised by police
A later clip shows the officer shaking the driver’s hand and thanking him. The motorist replied, “I am just glad I could be of service. That was quite exhilarating.” Armed policing Superintendent Will Lay said: “A suspect who was being relentlessly pursued, and was seeking to evade capture, came close to losing patrols in a nearby park. However, our armed officers remained committed.”
“Thanks to the quick and selfless actions of this responsible and public-spirited driver, officers were able to apprehend the dangerous individual,” Lay added. “The successful arrest may not have been possible without the member of the public and his vehicle. He should feel proud of his contribution to keeping his community safe and we are truly grateful for his assistance.”
