Two brave Met cops went head-to-head with a stolen car that literally rammed into them – but they refused to back down!
Stolen Land Rover Reverses Into Police Car
On Saturday 24 January, PC Angel De Melo and PC Rishav Neupane were patrolling Barnet when they spotted a Land Rover Defender reported stolen. They pulled up behind it on Somerton Street.
Suddenly, the driver slammed the Land Rover into reverse and charged straight at the officers’ vehicle. The stolen Defender smashed onto their bonnet, crushed the windscreen, pinned the two in their seats, and then flipped onto its side.
Heart-Stopping Moment for Officers
PC De Melo, sitting in the passenger seat, described the terrifying seconds:
“The wheel was coming straight at my face. I braced myself and then shattered glass erupted everywhere. I thought – this is it.”
PC Neupane added:
“I’ve been rammed before, but nothing like this. I heard the windscreen crunch under the tyres and feared Angel would be crushed.”
Fearless Pursuit Ends in Arrest
Amazingly, neither officer was seriously injured. They jumped out of their wrecked car, confronted the suspect, and chased him on foot after he tried to make a run for it.
The determined officers caught him and made the arrest.
Chief Superintendent Praises ‘Extraordinary Heroism’
Chief Superintendent Christina Jessah, in charge of policing in Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea, applauded the duo:
“This is policing at its very best: teamwork, resilience, and bravery under genuine threat. They were inches from serious harm but kept their cool to make the arrest.”
She warned:
“Vehicle attacks remain a deadly risk. Yet our officers face this danger every day with unmatched professionalism and courage.”
This nail-biting showdown highlights the extreme dangers police face daily to keep the public safe – and their fearless commitment to duty.
