STUDENT police officers in Middlesbrough swapped Powerpoints for pursuit when their lesson was disrupted by an incident involving a suspected stolen vehicle.

Officers from the roads policing unit were in pursuit of a suspected stolen Renault Megane in North Ormesby on March 17, when it made its way onto Borough Road towards the university buildings, then collided with a car and a bus as it turned onto Albert Road. Fortunately, however, no one was injured.

A male made off from the vehicle, and noticing a commotion outside, the student officers and their Police Educator, PC Nick Barclay, took action and chased after the suspect on foot alongside the officers from the roads policing unit.

A 35-year-old man was detained on Borough Road and was arrested on suspicion of a number of driving offences.

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A 28-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle.

Both men have since been released under investigation whilst enquiries continue.

The student officers, who began their Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) at the university in January, were ironically in the middle of a lesson on taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent (TWOC) when the incident unfolded.

Chief Inspector Paul Glendenning, Learning and Development at Cleveland Police, said: “Our student officers and their trainer, PC Barclay, were in the middle of their lesson when they noticed a commotion outside and immediately went out to assist their colleagues. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident and they were able to help in detaining a man who made off from the car.

“It’s a great way for them to see first-hand what they may come across on a day-to-day basis as a police officer. They’re only a few weeks into their course and now they have learned that, when you do become a police officer, you’re never off duty.

“These recruits are at the start of their service and already demonstrating the values, behaviours and public service we expect to see in our Cleveland Police officers.”