MORE tyre-deflating stingers are to be used on West Midlands streets to catch crime suspects, police say.
The force says the cash to pay for them has come from the proceeds of crime.
A West Midlands Police spokesman said: “We’ll be puncturing the progress of more criminals on our roads after using cash – from crooks – to fund extra tyre-deflating stingers.
“We’ve been able to equip a further 24 response cars with the devices after securing over £15,000 from the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) fund.
“This is cash clawed back from criminals and now means more officers will be able to put a hole in the plans of suspected criminals who try to flee from us and recover stolen vehicles.
“The stingers are designed to gradually deflate tyres, making it safer to detain riders or drivers.
“Extra devices have also been added to vehicles for the Black Country and Birmingham and comes after we previously received money from POCA to equip response cars in Coventry and Solihull.”
The stingers are designed to gradually deflate tyres, making it safer to detain riders or drivers
Chief Inspector Dave Keen said: “ We now have even greater capability to safely stop target vehicles and reduce criminality on the roads.
“The stinger is a great tool for officers to have an we’ve been able to catch criminals and recover cars worth tens of thousands of pounds through them.
“It’s all the more satisfying that we will be catching crooks… due to cash which has been recovered from other crooks.”
The West Midlands Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Waheed Saleem, added: “It is extremely good news that another 24 of our emergency response vehicles are being fitted with stingers, thanks to £15,000 from the proceeds of crime.
“Stingers have proved to be an extremely effective instrument in helping to protect the public and other road users by rapidly bringing to a halt dangerously driven vehicles which can cause so much harm and destruction.
“We are determined to ensure our West Midlands roads are safe and this investment will take us one step closer to achieving that goal. As with the money we put back into our local communities through our Active Citizens Fund and Community Initiatives Fund, this money has been made available through the Proceeds of Crime Act.
“I’m sure the public will share our satisfaction that money from crime is rightly being reinvested into helping to catch those very criminals responsible for crime.”
