Hampshire police launch probe after botched Portchester chase ends with car smashing into a house

The ‘short pursuit’ took place on Wednesday evening, shortly after 11pm, when the vehicle skidded off the road and crashed through the side of a property in Caer Peris View, Portchester.

As reported at the time, firefighters were called in to cut the female driver from her Mercedes amid fears part of the damage house could collapse.

When approached by The News for comment yesterday, police confirmed the collision and said nobody had been arrested. No mention of a pursuit was made.

But in an admission today, following further questions from The News, a spokeswoman admitted officers had been chasing the car after the driver allegedly failed to stop.

The incident has now prompted an internal review.

A spokeswoman told The News: ‘We were involved in a short pursuit after the vehicle failed to stop for police.

‘We'd received a report that the vehicle had been involved in a collision earlier in the evening in the Paulsgrove area.

'As per our policy this incident was sent to our Professional Standards Department in order to be reviewed.

‘This incident did not meet the criteria for a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.’

As previously reported, firefighters from Fareham, Cosham and Portchester alongside urban search and rescue specialists from Eastleigh were called to the crash.

Firefighters needed to slice through the doors of the Mercedes to free the woman, who was taken out on a spinal board.

Cosham crew manager Stephen Alchin said: ‘This could have been quite a dangerous situation. The building could have collapsed at any time so we had to get her out as quickly as possible.’

South Central Ambulance Service said the female, believed to be in her late 20s, suffered ‘minor injuries’ and was transported to Queen Alexandra Hospital for assessment.

Nobody inside the house was hurt in the crash, which caused thousands of pounds’ worth of damage and left a gaping hole in the building.

Hampshire police confirmed no arrests had been made and now witness appeal has been made.