Essex Police car 'rammed' in operation

For the first time ever, Essex and the Met Police teamed up for a joint operation to catch criminals using roads in and out of the county.

Around 70 officers were involved and eight arrests were made during the checks on Monday night around the A12 and A127 in the Brentwood and Havering area.

Automatic numberplate recognition technology was used to check cars using parts of the A12 and A127 suspected of being involved in crime. Checks were also carried out to stop vehicles or drivers without valid driving documents.

Essex officers checked about 5,000 numbers plates during the course of the operation and carried out a total of 20 stop searches, 55 stop checks, issued two fixed penalty notices and seized one car for no insurance.

An Essex police car was reverse rammed during one incident when a van was stopped in the Ockendon area. The driver ran off but was later arrested during a search involving Metropolitan Police officers and the Met Police helicopter.

A 22-year-old man from Ilford was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, failing to stop and stealing a vehicle.

Three men, aged 47, 21 and 19 and all from Romford, were arrested on suspicion of stealing metal after their vehicle was stopped on the A127 in Essex.

Metropolitan Police officers made four arrests for drug possession, disqualified driving and for having an offensive weapon. Four cannabis warning were issued and four cars were seized for no insurance.