THE brakes of a marked police van were intentionally cut and its tyres damaged as officers responded to a 999 call in Teesside.

Cleveland Police said the incident jeopardised police and public safety and branded the act "selfish and callous."

Assistant Chief Constable Lisa Theaker said: "“These criminals have shown absolute disregard to police who were attending an emergency incident and used this opportunity to cause costly and dangerous damage. This also meant the loss of a vehicle available to answer 999 calls last night.

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“This was a selfish and callous act, and we will work to identify those responsible and bring them to justice."

It happened between 9.30pm and 10.30pm on Tuesday, when officers were responding to a 999 call in the Hemlington area of Middlesbrough. 

One of the officers involved has recounted that when driving away from the call out they drove past a school and over a zebra crossing, unaware the brakes had been cut.

They have reflected that due to the criminal damage, had they needed to stop, they would have been unable to.

Two officers were crewed in a marked Ford Transit van and had travelled on blue lights to an emergency in Hemlington.

The police van was parked on Earls Court Road at the junction of Cass House Road while officers attended a matter.

When they returned to the vehicle, and drove away in dark and wet conditions, they realised there was a problem with the van’s tyres.

On examination of the vehicle both tyres on the passenger side were found to be damaged.

They arranged for a mechanic to attend and replace the tyres.

Once this was complete, the officers drove away to be redeployed but as they attempted to slow the vehicle, on the approach to Hemlington Hall Road roundabout, they found the brakes were not working.

The driver was able to pull the car over but realised the seriousness of the problem.

Another officer attended the incident to assist and confirmed the rear brake pipe had been intentionally cut.

Assistant Chief Constable Theaker said: “Those responsible put these officers lives at risk and endangered the public. If this had happened in the daytime when children were using the zebra crossing the consequences do not bear thinking about.

“These criminals have shown absolute disregard to police who were attending an emergency incident and used this opportunity to cause costly and dangerous damage. This also meant the loss of a vehicle available to answer 999 calls last night.

“This was a selfish and callous act, and we will work to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.

“We’d appeal to anyone who thinks they may have information to assist to call us on 101.

Alternatively you can speak anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

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