Basildon/Benfleet: 'Armed police! Show me your hands'

Three men were arrested by armed officers after making off in a white transit van, which drove away from the scene of a burglary in Benfleet.

Within minutes of the report on Wednesday 5 March, two of our firearms officers, who were in the area in an unmarked vehicle, were on the tail of the suspect vehicle.

The van proceeded to make off, reaching high speeds, driving on the wrong side of the road and the wrong way around a roundabout.

Our officers stayed close to the vehicle until it was abandoned on a roundabout in Basildon and three people ran from the scene.

Three arrests were promptly made, with one man attempting to hide behind a bin.

Chief Inspector Jennifer Bliss, head of our Force Support Unit, said:

“This incident exemplifies the wide variety of work my firearms officers engage in to catch criminals and keep the public safe.
“They are routinely engaged in response work, patrolling our communities in Essex and responding to reports of suspicious activity.
“These officers are highly-trained professionals who deploy a wide range of armed tactics, including the taser, to effect arrests in a swift and controlled manner.”