Two officers escape serious injury after vehicle is rammed

By Jonathan McCambridge (PA)

Two police officers have escaped serious injury after their vehicle was rammed in Co Down.

A senior officer appealed for information about the incident in Newry, which he described as “reckless”.

Superintendent Norman Haslett said: “At approximately 10.30pm a man and woman who appeared heavily intoxicated, arrived at a property in the Ferryhill Road area, causing a disturbance.

“Police were notified of this report and the man and woman left the scene in a white-coloured Mini Countryman vehicle.

“Officers were on patrol in the area carrying out related inquiries when the suspected car approached a junction on the Dublin Road and didn’t stop, colliding with the police vehicle.

“The suspect continued to ram the police car, forcing it up unto a grass verge on the opposite side of the road.

“As an officer attempted to leave the vehicle to effect an arrest, the suspect rammed his car again and made off from the scene in the direction of the border.”

Mr Haslett said both officers were left badly shaken by the ordeal and he was grateful nobody sustained serious injuries.

He added: “Repairs will need to be carried out to our response vehicle before it can be used again.

“Our officers were working to keep people safe when this reckless act occurred and attacks like these should be wholly condemned.

“An investigation is now under way and we are also liaising with our colleagues in An Garda Siochana.

“We’re appealing to anyone who saw the white Mini Countryman, or captured dash-cam footage of its movements, or who knows of its location now, to get in touch with us by calling 101, and quoting reference number 1782 14/11/23.”

Handout photo issued by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) of damage to one of their cars after it was by rammed a white-coloured Mini Countryman vehicle in Newry