Local security team thanked following motorway smash

Staff from Andover based Venture Security were thanked this week by Surrey police officers after they arrested a car thief who had been drinking.  Alexei Roberts and Paul Howe of Andover, and Ben Grant of Salisbury were travelling home along the M3 in the early hours of Sunday morning after working at a live music event in Kent when they came across the scene of an accident.

“There was debris all over the road and a badly damaged car in the hard shoulder so we stopped to offer emergency first aid”, said Paul. “When we asked if anyone was hurt a member of the public said ‘No, but the driver’s been drinking’”.

The three door supervisors approached the alleged drink driver and ushered him away from the live carriageway for his own safety. Noticing that the man smelt strongly of alcohol, and concerned by his aggressive behaviour, they restrained him and waited for more than an hour for the police to arrive.

“We had to wait for a long time as the police were already dealing with another accident, and the man was becoming very aggressive”, said Ben. “He was threatening to kill us and trying to struggle, but we were able to hold him without risk to either him or ourselves thanks to our extensive training”.

Officers from Surrey Police firearms section attended the scene and arrested the man on suspicion of drink driving and theft of a motor vehicle, as it turned out that the vehicle, a Ford Fiesta, had been reported stolen during the night.

“We are used to dealing with people who are intoxicated in and around bars and clubs, but it was a surprise to come across it like this on the motorway”. Paul continued, “Both the police and other members of the public were really thankful to us for holding the guy, but we were just glad we could help”