A man has been arrested in Chorley after allegedly failing to stop for police and being found minutes later in possession of car keys believed to belong to the same 4x4, Lancashire Police say.
What happened
Officers were called to an incident at a pub in Chorley. Within seconds of arriving in the area, they reported seeing a vehicle matching the description driving towards them at speed. Police activated blue lights and sirens, but the driver did not stop and made off through the town.
Police said they were unable to pursue the vehicle at the time but reviewed dash-cam footage and carried out checks which identified the vehicle’s registration and registered keeper. During an area search a short time later an officer located a man whose appearance matched that of the driver and arrested him on suspicion of failing to stop for police.
Evidence recovered and further action
Officers say a search of the man found car keys in his jacket pocket which they believed belonged to the vehicle seen minutes earlier. The arrested man was required to provide a roadside breath test but refused and was arrested again on suspicion of failing to provide a specimen. Police say he refused to give a sample while in custody and is expected to be charged with that offence, which carries the same penalties as drink driving.
The 4x4 was subsequently found parked in a supermarket car park in Chorley. Officers confirmed it was the same vehicle after the recovered keys unlocked and started it. The vehicle was seized under Section 59 of the Police Reform Act due to the manner in which it had been driven.
Local enforcement and community implications
The case highlights local policing procedures when a driver fails to stop: officers used evidence from vehicle footage and area searches rather than a high-speed pursuit, and proceeded to recover the vehicle and arrest an alleged offender. The seizure under Section 59 reflects action taken where driving is judged to have been irresponsible or threatening to the public.
- Location: Chorley town centre and nearby supermarket car park
- Police actions: dash-cam review, identification checks, area search, arrest, seizure of vehicle
- Legal points: refusal to provide a specimen carries the same penalties as drink driving; vehicle seized under Section 59
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| Initial call | Incident at a pub in Chorley |
| Sighting | Vehicle seen driving towards police at speed |
| Driver response | Failed to stop despite blue lights and sirens |
| Arrest | Man detained after area search; keys found on person |
| Breath test | Refused roadside and in custody; to be charged |
| Vehicle | Found in supermarket car park and seized |
Police have not released further details about the suspect pending charging procedures. The incident serves as a reminder of the risks associated with failing to comply with police directions and the enforcement options available to officers in such cases.
