TWO men have been arrested after a police pursuit involving two motorcycles ended near Hailsham following reports of dangerous riding in Eastbourne.
Police were alerted at around 11.40pm on Wednesday, June 3, after an off-duty officer spotted two motorcycles being ridden dangerously in the Shinewater area of Eastbourne.
The officer reported that one of the motorcycles was not displaying a registration plate and that the riders appeared to be carrying fuel canisters. Due to ongoing concerns about motorcycle thefts in the area, officers launched an immediate search.
The motorcycles were later located on Willingdon Drove, where officers attempted to stop them. However, the riders failed to stop and made off, prompting a coordinated response involving local policing teams, operational support units and the National Police Air Service (NPAS).
Although the motorcycles were initially lost after being ridden along routes inaccessible to police vehicles, officers established a containment area and, with support from NPAS, later traced the bikes to the Robin Post Lane area outside Hailsham.
Officers searched nearby woodland and, guided by NPAS, quickly located and detained both suspects.
During searches of the area, police recovered discarded helmets and tools believed to be linked to motorcycle thefts, including a hammer and two screwdrivers.
A 20-year-old man from Hailsham was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and going equipped for theft. A 19-year-old man from Eastbourne was arrested on suspicion of failing to stop for police and going equipped for theft.
Both men remain in custody while enquiries continue.
Eastbourne District Commander Chief Inspector Kara Tombling said: “The arrests were made possible through the coordinated efforts of an off-duty officer, response teams, operational support units and NPAS, demonstrating the effectiveness of teamwork across policing teams in tackling vehicle crime and keeping communities safe.”
