New police tactics to ram thieves off their mopeds have left two with broken bones, The Met chief has said.

The controversial move sees officers using their vehicles to stop dangerous chases and arrest suspects.

The tough new approach was unveiled this month with dramatic footage of moped muggers being wiped out.

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

Police chiefs also warned there is no maximum speed limit for police cars to hit mopeds, some of which are being driven by youngsters aged just 14.


Commissioner Cressida Dick said pursuit drivers are ‘supremely well trained’ and the ramming method has resulted in a ‘very small’ number of injuries.



‘At least one person who broke their arm and another who had some sort of break,’ she told Channel 5 on Friday.

‘My officers make life-and-death decisions every day of the week, they’re very accountable. They make the best possible decisions. We are in a risk business.’

Officers are now able to knock suspected thieves off their mopeds (Picture: SWNS)

Ms Dick said the freedom to ram scooters was brought in to deter moped crime.

‘We’ve had to put the fear back into the criminal,’ she said.

‘These are people who have been repeatedly left in no doubt whatsoever that there’s a police car right behind them.

‘If you look over your shoulder and drive on as fast as possible, putting the public in danger, you should expect we will come after you.’

The police are now deploying new tactics to stop thieves on mopeds (Picture: SWNS)

Ms Dick weighed in on another debate around the potential use of armed officers to patrol streets on foot when gang violence is imminent.

Scotland Yard is considering allowing the tactic in ‘extreme circumstances’ to support the force’s largely unarmed officers.

Tottenham MP David Lammy criticised the idea as ‘an attempt to put out fire with fire’ that risks turning streets ‘into armed battlegrounds’.

Ms Dick said there had been a ‘huge misunderstanding’ around the proposal.

‘I have no intention of causing armed officers to be routinely walking around the suburbs, except when it might be really necessary,’ she said.

‘Rest assured I’m not going to ask firearm officers to do more unless there’s a reason to do it. Huge misunderstanding.’