A man has been arrested following a high-speed pursuit in the Marlborough area last night.
At around 9.20pm a National Police Air Service plane spotted suspicious activity on farmland near Aldbourne, near Marlborough.
Officers attempted to stop a vehicle involved, which made off from police and failed to stop.
During the pursuit, the offending vehicle was driven at speeds in excess of 80mph and a bright light or torch was shone into the face of the police officers following them.
At various points, it was also driving without its headlights on, and reached speeds of 60mph in a 30mph speed limit in Broad Hinton.
The vehicle was eventually located farmland in Yatesbury.
One man was arrested and three dogs were seized.
A 32-year-old man from Frome has been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, dangerous driving, hare coursing and failing to stop for police. He is currently in custody at Melksham Police Station.
Inspector Chris Martin, from the Devizes Area Community Policing Team, said: “We know that our rural communities are concerned about hare coursing and poaching, and the impact this has on farms and other businesses.
“We hope this shows people that we will take action to apprehend offenders, even when they go to dangerous lengths to try to avoid arrest.
“In this particular case, the driver of this vehicle showed a complete disregard for the safety of the police officers following them – shining a light to try to blind them while they were driving – and other road users who could have easily been involved in a collision with this vehicle, which was being driven at high speed without its headlights on.
“Thankfully, the pursuit came to an end safely, and we have made one arrest – but our focus will now turn on locating any other suspects involved.”
