Police stinger falls off patrol car in blunder and punctures tyres of four passing vehicles

A POLICE stinger left on top of a patrol car fell off and punctured the tyres of four passing vehicles.

The blunder caused damage costing hundreds of pounds and forced the busy road to be closed for three hours.

A cop forgot the device, used to safely stop speeding motors in a pursuit, after a routine equipment check.

A lorry and a car managed to swerve on to the hard shoulder to avoid the stinger on the A11 dual carriageway at Spooner Row near Wymondham, Norfolk, on Sunday lunchtime.

The HGV driver said: “I looked in my rear-view mirror and about four cars went over it.

"Luckily no-one crashed.”

Norfolk Police said that no-one was hurt in the “unfortunate incident” and promised to compensate the affected drivers.

A spokesman said: “It had been accidentally left on the roof by officers checking the equipment in the vehicle.

"The device was run over by four vehicles which all suffered punctures.

“The incident has been reviewed and words of advice have been given.”

Local councillor Robert Foster said: “It is embarrassing for the force.

"It is an accident that shouldn’t have happened.”