FOOTAGE has been released by Essex police of a dramatic by successful car pursuit by firearms officers trained as patrolling response specialists.

Their efforts recovered a stolen car and prevented potentially disastrous consequences when they brought a pursuit to a safe conclusion.

Two officers were on patrol in Tilbury last month when they spotted a car displaying a suspected cloned number plate – often an indicator of a stolen vehicle.

They followed the car and signalled for it to stop. The driver attempted to make off, and a pursuit began.

The pursuit continued onto a roundabout, where the vehicle tried to enter the A1089 into oncoming traffic.

A poolice statement continues: "Our officers made the right – and potentially life‑saving – decision to make tactical contact with the vehicle, bringing it to a stop and arresting the occupants.

"The car, a Ford EcoSport, was confirmed as stolen from Grays the previous month.

The driver, Bob Price, 23, of no fixed address, later admitted charges of aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving, driving without a valid licence, and driving without insurance.

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"He appeared in court last month and was jailed for 30 weeks. He was also banned from driving for more than two years.

"Our Force Support Unit, home to our firearms officers, made hundreds of arrests in 2025.

"They are typically deployed to some of the most serious emergencies we handle, including incidents involving suspected weapons.

"Their calm professionalism during high‑pressure incidents has meant they have not had to fire a shot in the line of duty in Essex since 2015."

Superintendent Jennifer Bliss, of our Force Support Unit, said: "There's a lot I suspect the public don't know about our firearms officers.

"This includes their specialism in pursuits. They regularly stop dangerous drivers, seize stolen vehicles and apprehend criminals using our county's roads.

"They are trained to a high level in a range of other skills too – including medical training, enabling them to provide aid at all manner of emergencies.

"They don't just catch offenders; they're often the first on the scene of major incidents and frequently save lives."