THIS WEEK IN 1975: City of Portsmouth is sealed off in manhunt

Three cars rammed '“ including two police units '“ cyclists injured in a hit-and-run crash, 50 families roused from their beds, and two burglaries... that was the tally of a dramatic eight-hour manhunt across Portsmouth during the night.

For six hours as the massive dragnet was mounted to catch a man believed to be wanted by police throughout southern England, the city was completely sealed off by road blocks, wrote The News’ crime reporter, Peter Smith.

Detective Chief Inspector John Wright, head of Portsea Island CID, announced that the investigation was launched after an evening incident at a pub.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Local authorities were then lead on a goose chase of wild proportions; searching tens of homes, cordening off streets, and attending two burglaries, before a man was finally arrested during the early hours of the following day.