Police chase suspects on the A12 to Kelvedon before 'crash'

Police officers hunting a vehicle using cloned number plates spotted it in Marks Tey shortly before midnight on Monday.

The motorist is then said to have made off at speed on the A12 while a police helicopter was deployed to aid the high-octane chase.

Stopped - the vehicle came to a halt near The Angel, Kelvedon (Image: Google)

The vehicle, understood to be a Range Rover, stopped when it crashed into a parked vehicle near Church Street, Kelvedon.

The police’s dog unit was also utilised in an attempt to capture the evasive crooks.

“The vehicle was pursued [before] it stopped in Kelvedon and the occupants made off on foot,” an Essex Police Force Control Room spokesman said.

Excellent job today involving multiple departments.

FCR's ANPR team & Roads Policing Unit (RPU) were looking for a cloned vehicle in #Colchester. With a bit of searching the vehicle was sighted by officers and made off at speed in #MarksTey.

— Force Control Room (@EPControlRoom) September 5, 2022

A second vehicle in convoy with the one targeted by the police also failed to stop when ordered to by officers.

It was pursued up the A12 to Hatfield Peverel where it decamped.

Aerial view - the A12 at Marks Tey (Image: Newsquest)

It is understood two people have been arrested as a result of the incident and both vehicles have been seized.

Kelvedon and Feering councillor Paul Thorogood said he could not comment on an ongoing police investigation but claimed it heightens the need for extra safety measures on the roads.

4 arrested overnight for theft of motor vehicles and going equipped, following vehicle pursuit and combined team work @EPRoadsPolicing @EssexOSG @EPDogs @NPASSouthEast pic.twitter.com/VVv17iuHNo

— Essex Roads Policing (@EPRoadsPolicing) September 6, 2022

“Some residents have asked for traffic calming measures in this area in Kelvedon and it is something I’m certainly looking at,” said Mr Thorogood.

“Unfortunately late at night in the High Street there can be more dangerous driving as there isn’t other vehicles to slow other traffic down.”

Action - Paul Thorogood (Image: Newsquest)

The councillor called for Essex County Council to back his vision for a pedestrian crossing between Kelvedon’s Post Office and Co-op, however, it will come at a cost.

“There’s only £600,000 available for road safety in the whole of the Braintree district, and this idea will cost £70,000 alone.”

Essex Police was contacted for comment but did not respond at the time of going to press.