More police cars equipped with 'stingers' in West Midlands to catch criminals
More police cars in the West Midlands have been fitted with tyre-deflating stingers in a bid to catch fleeing criminals.
A total of 24 response cars will use the new devices – paid for after more than £15,000 was clawed back from offenders.
It will enable West Midlands Police to catch suspects who flee from crime scenes – and allow them to recover stolen vehicles.
Chief Inspector Dave Keen said: “We now have even greater capability to safely stop target vehicles and reduce criminality on the roads.
"The stinger is a great tool for officers to have an we’ve been able to catch criminals and recover cars worth tens of thousands of pounds through them.
"It’s all the more satisfying that we will be catching crooks due to cash which has been recovered from other crooks."
Extra devices have been added to vehicles in the Black Country and Birmingham using money from the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) fund.
The stingers are designed to gradually deflate tyres – making it safer to detain riders or drivers.
West Midlands Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Waheed Saleem said: "It is extremely good news that another 24 of our emergency response vehicles are being fitted with stingers, thanks to £15,000 from the proceeds of crime.
"Stingers have proved to be an extremely effective instrument in helping to protect the public and other road users by rapidly bringing to a halt dangerously driven vehicles which can cause so much harm and destruction.
"We are determined to ensure our West Midlands roads are safe and this investment will take us one step closer to achieving that goal.
"As with the money we put back into our local communities through our Active Citizens Fund and Community Initiatives Fund, this money has been made available through the Proceeds of Crime Act.
"I’m sure the public will share our satisfaction that money from crime is rightly being reinvested into helping to catch those very criminals responsible for crime."
