A MAN has been arrested following a police chase in Bournemouth and Christchurch involving the NPAS helicopter.

The 21-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of driving offences and theft from a motor vehicle following the pursuit which ended on foot on Friday, November 4.

The vehicle, which was believed to be linked to catalytic converter thefts, was located at around 10.45pm in Upper Hinton Road.

It was reported the vehicle made off from officers and drove the wrong way round the Lansdowne Roundabout.

Bournemouth Echo:

It was then seen by officers in the Highcliffe area before a pursuit started which came to a stop by officers in Hurn Village.

The occupants of the vehicle reportedly left the vehicle on foot and a search of the area was carried out, with assistance from the NPAS helicopter.

Dorset Police had been made aware of the vehicle earlier in the evening after it failed to stop for officers in Hampshire and was believed to have travelled into Dorset.

The man has been released on police bail as enquiries continue.

Chief Inspector Andy Edwards, of Dorset Police, said: “This incident involved collaboration across the county border with our colleagues in Hampshire and a number of police assets were involved in the search, including response officers, pursuit-trained traffic officers and the NPAS helicopter.

“This demonstrates how we will work with other forces and use all resources available to us to relentlessly pursue those suspected of being involved in criminal offences.”

Police Constable Sebastian Haggett, of Dorset Police’s Rural Crime Team, added: “The vehicle was identified through cross border intelligence sharing with Hampshire as a result of the strong relationships we have built following recent successful operations.”