Met Police ram stolen van off A20 after 17-mile chase in Bromley
A 23-year-old man was arrested on Mottingham Road following a pursuit that began in Swanscombe
Incident → evidence → outcomeA 23-year-old man was arrested on Mottingham Road on Sunday evening after a high-speed police chase that began in Swanscombe and ended near Bromley. The Met Police confirmed the driver was stopped using tactical contact, a manoeuvre that forced the stolen van off the A20.
The van, a white Citroën, was reported stolen from an address in Swanscombe at 2:55pm, as reported by The Sun. The property owner is believed to have known the suspect. Kent Police alerted the Met after the vehicle was spotted heading towards London at around 6:45pm.
Driver fled on foot before arrest
Footage shared by MyBromley shows the van weaving through traffic on the wrong side of the A20, flashing its indicators and swerving to avoid other vehicles. The pursuit covered 17 miles before officers rammed the van on Mottingham Road.
The driver fled on foot but was quickly caught by pursuing officers. He was arrested on suspicion of aggravated vehicle taking, criminal damage, dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, and failing to stop for police. He remains in custody while investigations continue.
Officer injured during pursuit
One Met Police officer sustained a hand injury during the incident. The officer was taken to hospital but has since been discharged. The Met Police and Kent Police have not yet provided further comment on the operation or the officer’s condition.
The incident follows two recent fatal collisions involving wrong-way drivers. Last week, PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough were killed when their police car was hit by a vehicle travelling the wrong way on the A66 in Middlesbrough. In June, five teenagers died in a crash on the M9 in County Kildare after stealing a BMW.
What happens next
The 23-year-old suspect will remain in custody while the Met Police continue their investigation. No court date has been set. Residents in Mottingham and Bromley can expect increased police presence as enquiries proceed, though no further disruptions have been announced.
Questions this report answers
01What charges does the arrested driver face?
The 23-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of aggravated vehicle taking, criminal damage, dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, and failing to stop for police. He remains in custody while the Met Police continue their investigation into the incident.
02How was the stolen van stopped?
Met Police used tactical contact to ram the stolen van off the A20 near Bromley. The manoeuvre forced the vehicle to a halt on Mottingham Road, where the driver fled on foot before being arrested by officers.
03Was anyone injured during the police chase?
One Met Police officer sustained a hand injury during the pursuit and was taken to hospital. The officer has since been discharged. No other injuries have been reported in connection with the incident.
04Where did the police chase start?
The pursuit began in Swanscombe, Kent, after the van was reported stolen at 2:55pm on Sunday. The vehicle was spotted by police at around 6:45pm heading towards London, leading to the 17-mile chase on the A20.
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