Police helicopter and local policing team work together to arrest four suspects

Two vehicles were stopped and four people arrested following effective teamwork between Kent Police and the National Police Air Service (NPAS).

At around 8pm on Monday 23 January 2023 patrols were notified that a suspected stolen car had been linked to a reported shoplifting at a petrol station in Swanley.

With the assistance of an NPAS helicopter, officers from the Swanley Local Policing Team located the vehicle and pursued it to Gildenhill Road where they made two arrests.

Joe Rossiter, 39, of Hart Dyke Crescent, Swanley, has since appeared before Medway magistrates and pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop, driving without insurance or a licence, failing to supply a blood test and two counts of theft. He was granted bail by the court and will appear for sentencing at Maidstone Crown Court on a date to be determined.

A woman who was also arrested at the scene was released without charge.

Shortly after the incident officers were alerted to another car reported to have been driven in the area on false plates.

Again with the assistance of the NPAS helicopter the patrols were able to locate the vehicle and pursue it to an address in Dartford.

Billy Jeeves, 33, of Mayfly Close, Orpington, was later charged with offences including dangerous driving, theft of fuel, failing to stop and driving without insurance or a licence. He was granted bail by Medway magistrates and will next appear at Maidstone Crown Court on Wednesday 22 February.

Rebecca Scott, 32, of Austin Road, Orpington, was charged with allowing herself to be transported in a vehicle that had been taken without the owner’s consent. She received police bail and will appear before Sevenoaks magistrates on Thursday 23 February.