On Sunday, July 21, at 5:15 am, a police officer from Lancashire Police approached a Volkswagen Passat parked on the side of the M6 motorway, near Forton services in Lancashire. The officer’s intention was to speak with the driver, but as he approached the vehicle, the driver suddenly woke up and began driving off at speed. This unexpected turn of events led to a high-speed pursuit that would involve multiple police forces and span across several motorways.
The police officer, who was in a marked police vehicle, quickly gave chase, following the Volkswagen Passat as it sped southbound on the M6. The pursuit was initially a solo effort, but soon, additional resources were deployed to assist in the chase. Lancashire Police’s colleagues from Greater Manchester Police and Cheshire Police joined the pursuit, bringing their expertise and equipment to the table.
As the pursuit continued, the Volkswagen Passat remained elusive, weaving in and out of lanes and taking advantage of the motorway’s multiple lanes to evade capture. The police vehicles, however, were hot on its heels, expertly navigating the twists and turns of the motorway to stay in pursuit.
The pursuit took the police on a wild ride, covering a distance of approximately 100 miles. The Volkswagen Passat was driven at high speeds, reaching speeds of over 100 mph, as it hurtled down the motorway. The police, however, were determined to bring the vehicle to a stop, and they worked tirelessly to keep up with the fleeing driver.
As the pursuit continued, the police forces involved worked seamlessly together, coordinating their efforts to ensure that the Volkswagen Passat was brought to a safe and controlled stop. The pursuit took the police on a journey across multiple motorways, including the M6, M56, M60, M62, and M66.
The pursuit finally came to an end when a stinger was deployed on the A56, near Edenfield, on the Greater Manchester and Lancashire border. The stinger, a device designed to puncture the tires of a fleeing vehicle, successfully brought the Volkswagen Passat to a stop. The driver, Mohammed Fitouri, 40, of Galloway Street, Glasgow, was arrested and taken into custody.
Fitouri was charged with a range of offenses, including dangerous driving, failing to stop, driving a motor vehicle on a road whilst exceeding the prescribed drug limit, and driving with no insurance. He was remanded in custody and appeared before Blackburn Magistrates’ Court, where he was given an interim disqualification from driving order.
The successful pursuit and arrest of Fitouri was a testament to the excellent teamwork and cooperation between the three police forces involved. Lancashire Police, Greater Manchester Police, and Cheshire Police all played a crucial role in bringing the pursuit to a successful conclusion, and their efforts were praised by the authorities.
In a statement, Lancashire Road Police praised the teamwork and cooperation between the three police forces, saying that it was a great example of how forces can work together to keep communities safe. The statement read: “We often work closely with bordering forces to keep our communities safe, and that’s what happened on Sunday morning (July 21). A man was sleeping in his grey VW Passat on the side of the M6 in Lancaster. One of our officers approached his car to speak with him, at which point he woke up and began to drive off at speed. A high-speed pursuit began as further resources joined to assist, pursuing the car southbound on the M6 all the way down to Junction 21A, before heading onto the M56. Our colleagues at GMP and Cheshire Police joined the pursuit onto the M60, around most of Manchester before joining the M62 and then north back towards Lancashire on the M66. As a result of deploying a stinger, the car was successfully stopped by officers on the A56 on the Greater Manchester and Lancashire border, near Edenfield. Great teamwork across three police forces, thanks to Greater Manchester Police and Cheshire Police.”
The successful pursuit and arrest of Fitouri was a significant achievement for the police forces involved, and it serves as a reminder of the importance of teamwork and cooperation in keeping communities safe. The pursuit was a complex and challenging operation, requiring the expertise and resources of multiple police forces. The fact that the police were able to bring the pursuit to a successful conclusion, without incident, is a testament to their professionalism and dedication to their work.