Police officers praised after their car is crushed
The officers were responding to reports of a stolen vehicle
Last updated 19th Mar 2026
The Met police say two of their officers are fortunate to have been able to walk away after their patrol car was crushed by another vehicle
This happened in north west London in January.
The Defender mounted the front of the police car, driving up over the bonnet, crushing the windscreen, going up onto the roof before flipping onto its side.
PC Angel De Melo, who was in the front passenger seat of the police car when it was struck, said:
“Everything happened so quickly but in those kind of incidents, it feels like time slows down.
“The wheel was directly in line with my face. I remember seeing it come towards us and I braced for it to ram us.
“But then it didn’t stop. I remember feeling a mist of shattered glass all over me.
“In that moment I thought - this is it.”
PC Rishav Neupane, who was driving the police car, said:
“I’ve been rammed before but nothing like this.
“I can remember the sound of the windscreen crushing, the tyres rolling over it and the windscreen starting to collapse. That sticks in my mind.
“I thought Angel was going to be crushed.”
Chief Superintendent Christina Jessah, in charge of policing in Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea, said:
“The actions of these officers highlight policing at its very best: teamwork, resilience, and bravery in the face of a genuine threat.
“The photographs from the scene highlight how close they were to serious, potentially life‑changing harm. We are incredibly fortunate that they were able to walk away - let alone continue the pursuit and ensure the suspect’s safe arrest.
“This incident highlights not only their individual courage but also the extraordinary heroism displayed by frontline officers across the Met every single day. The use of vehicles as weapons continues to pose significant risks, yet our officers confront this danger with unwavering professionalism and resolve.”
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