Proactive on-the-spot policing led to two hit-and-run suspects being arrested within minutes of a reported crash.
Members of Nottinghamshire Police’s dedicated city south Operation Reacher team were patrolling in Sneinton when they saw two youths running.
Sensing something wasn’t right, the officers jumped out of their van, chased after them and arrested the pair in the Sneinton Road area.
As they were detaining the youths and making enquiries the officers then found out about the crash which had happened nearby in Newark Street. It was alleged they had ran off from a car involved in the collision.
A 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of driving without insurance, driving while disqualified, failing to stop, aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving, failing to stop and possession of cannabis.
A 15-year-old boy was detained on suspicion of taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent, failing to stop and possession of cannabis.
No-one was injured in the crash which happened at around 7.35pm on Friday (10 December 2021).
Police Constable John Meanwell, of the city south Operation Reacher team, said: “Even before we heard about the crash we had already seen the suspects running from the scene and sensing something wasn’t right we chased and detained them.
“We then found out they had allegedly just ran from the crashed vehicle so they were both arrested.
“I’m pleased that by trusting our instincts we managed to make these arrests within minutes of the crash happening as well as seizing some cannabis.
“Our positive work in this case also shows how seriously the force takes these types of reports and will take proactive action against those seen to be committing offences.”
Operation Reacher balances proactive evidence-led police work with strong community engagement events and programmes in order to disrupt and dismantle criminal operations in the area.
There are Operation Reacher teams in all 12 policing neighbourhoods across the Nottinghamshire Police force footprint.
The teams react dynamically to local concerns with enforcement, however their work is not all arrests and warrants. Each team works closely with communities with strong engagement activities as well as spending time on proactive patrols in their local areas getting to know residents and responding to their concerns.
The proactive work of the Operation Reacher teams also supplements the existing work of neighbourhood policing teams across the city and county.
The two suspects have since been released under investigation in relation to the driving matters.
The pair, who cannot be named for legal reasons, have been charged with possession of cannabis. They have been bailed to appear at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on 22 December in relation to those allegations.
