Blackpool police make arrests after ‘following their instincts’

Two officers on patrol in Blackpool followed their instincts - and five people ended up being arrested.

The first incident occurred at around 3.50pm on Friday (December 2) on Whitegate Drive, when an officer spotted a BMW M-series and just ‘felt’ something was amiss.

He checked the details of the vehicle and found it was insured to a woman but was being driven by two men, so signalled for it to stop so he could make sure everything was above board.

The vehicle made off and a short pursuit began. At one point the passenger decamped, while the driver continued to flee while filming the pursuit from out of the window.

The BMW was eventually stopped on Baldwin Grove.

The driver tested positive at the scene for cocaine.

A 26-year-old man from Blackpool was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, theft of a vehicle, drug-driving, failing to stop and driving without insurance. He has since been released under investigation.

The passenger in the vehicle was located close to the scene in possession of a large amount of cash. A 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of money laundering and theft of a vehicle.

Both men have since been released under investigation and enquiries are ongoing.

The second incident occurred at around 11pm that day, after an officer on patrol saw three cars in the Devonshire Road area stop outside a shop together, and someone from each one go inside to buy alcohol.

The cars then set off again and were followed while back-up was brought in. A co-ordinated stop of all three cars then took place.

All three drivers were found to be over the limit for alcohol and were arrested.

Sgt Steve Burton, of the Lancashire Police Roads Policing Team, said: “This kind of policing is part and parcel of our daily business but these incidents really highlight how brilliant our officers are at spotting when something just doesn’t feel ‘right’.

“We hope this sends a message to criminals that we are always out and about looking for them, and it is just a matter of time before they get caught.”