PSNI officers have been injured after a police pursuit in West Belfast in the early hours of this morning.
The incident unfolded as a black Audi A4 made off from the city’s Divis area at around 2.30am with the vehicle “weaving onto the wrong side of the road, failing to give way at junctions and driving the wrong way around a roundabout”.
Armed Response officers were deployed in an effort to stop the car with the pursuit “ended using tactical contact”, the police said on their West Belfast Facebook page.
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In a statement issued on Saturday afternoon, the PSNI said four officers sustained “minor injuries” during the pursuit and a subsequent arrest.
The police say a man has been arrested “on suspicion of a number of offences following a vehicle pursuit which saw two police vehicles rammed”.
Chief Inspector Pete Cunningham said: “Officers were on patrol in the Servia Street area around 2.30am when a black Audi A4 made off, failing to stop for police. A pursuit ensued and the suspect vehicle was observed weaving onto the wrong side of the road, failing to give way at junctions and driving the wrong way around a roundabout.
“Two police callsigns brought the vehicle to a stop in the Upper Springfield Road area a short time later, however, the suspect driver reverse rammed the front of one of the police vehicles. At this time, the police vehicle was stationary, but the officer in the front passenger seat was in the process of exiting the car when the collision occurred, and was jolted into the doorframe. The driver of the suspect vehicle then collided with a second police vehicle when attempting to make off again.
“Four officers sustained minor injuries, but despite this, they remained on duty, which reflects their resilience during difficult challenges they face on a daily basis, while working to keep people safe. Our priority is their safety and welfare and, as an organisation, we will ensure support is available where it’s needed.
“The two police vehicles were also damaged during the incident and will be off the road for repairs, which impacts on the local community. A 50-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of offences including driving when unfit, dangerous driving and failing to stop for police. He remains in custody at this time.
“Thankfully we are not dealing with more serious injuries today - and the actions of the driver responsible for the pursuit and subsequent collision with our officers is totally unacceptable. Members of the public could have also been injured during this completely reckless and dangerous incident. Our investigation is underway and anyone with information, including dashcam or other footage, is asked to contact us on 101, quoting reference 130 of 22/3/25.”
The police added that a report can be submitted online using their non-emergency reporting form at http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or people can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/.
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