Four police cars damaged in 45-minute chase out of Brighton

Two men are being held after a police chase along the A27 from the centre of Brighton to Drusillas Zoo at Selmeston.

Officers used stop sticks to puncture the tyres of a grey Ford Transit van after a chase lasting 45 minutes.

Four police cars and a number of other vehicles were damaged during the chase which started in the centre of Brighton yesterday afternoon (Sunday 2 June).

Two men were arrested and the A27 was closed for a while at Selmeston while recovery workers removed the damaged vehicles.

Sussex Police said: “Police were alerted to a grey Transit van that was being driven erratically in North Street, Brighton, around 3.45pm.

“A few minutes later it was spotted by police, but drove off.

During the pursuit it was involved in a number of damage only collisions with police and private vehicles.

“It was finally brought to a stop using stop sticks to puncture its wheels at the Drusillas roundabout about 4.15pm.”

Chief Inspector Jayne Dando said: “Thankfully nobody was injured in this incident but it has caused a fair amount of disruption along the route and it was necessary to close the A27 at Selmeston for a while in order to remove the damaged vehicles.

“I appreciate that this was an inconvenience on a nice, sunny Sunday afternoon and I should like to thank everyone for their patience while this was carried out.”

Anyone who saw the incident is asked to call Sussex Police on 101.

One of those arrested was a 35-year-old man from West Drayton who was held on suspicion of dangerous driving, driving under the influence of drink or drugs, failing to stop and theft.

The other was a 25-year-old man from Slough who was held on suspicion of being carried in a stolen vehicle.