A POLICE officer commandeered a member of the public’s car to catch a fleeing suspect following an armed robbery.

Officers from Brighton and Hove Police were called to reports of two boys being robbed by a group of teenagers in Western Road.

Police said one of the boys was in possession of a knife, while the other had a baseball bat.

After parking in Western Road, an officer quickly detained one of the suspects in Clarence Square.

But after a call came in that the other suspect was back in Western Road, on the other side of Churchill Square shopping centre, the officer decided to ask for help from a passer-by.

“With time of the essence, the officer leapt into the passenger seat of a member of the public’s car, who drove them back round to catch the suspect before he could escape,” a police spokesman said.

“Thanks to his quick thinking and the vital help of the driver, it was one knife off the street and another suspect in custody.”

A 14-year-old boy from Bognor was arrested on suspicion of robbery and carrying an offensive weapon following the incident on Saturday, July 2.

A 16-year-old boy from Brighton was also arrested on suspicion of robbery and possession of cannabis.

Both have been released on conditional bail while enquiries continue.

The police spokesman added: “Our officers will stop at nothing to bring criminals to justice.

“So much so, one officer commandeered a member of the public's car last weekend to catch up with a fleeing suspect.”