The PSNI has introduced a one-month dashcam pilot scheme in the Newry, Mourne and Down Policing District (D District) in an effort to address high levels of police vehicle ramming incidents across the region.

To date this year, the PSNI has recorded more than 100 incidents of police vehicles being rammed, with 17 of these occurring within D District alone. The resulting damage has led to over 20 vehicles being removed for repairs at a cost of approximately £140,000.

District Commander Superintendent Lynne Corbett stated that the primary aim of the pilot is to deter and reduce ramming incidents, keep officers safer, minimise fleet damage, and enhance criminal justice outcomes when offenders "weaponise vehicles against us." A serving officer from the District described his experience of being in a vehicle that was deliberately rammed in October: "As we approached, a second vehicle appeared and, apparently assuming police were trying to stop him, he deliberately drove his vehicle at speed into the lefthand side of our patrol car. Our vehicle was violently shunted and in turn struck a member of the public’s car... It is certainly an extremely scary and traumatising experience to go through, to have someone deliberately drive toward you at speed with the intent of stopping you and injuring you."

As a result of that specific incident, two police officers, two older people, and two young men all sustained injuries, and the PSNI vehicle remains away for repair.

Superintendent Corbett confirmed that the deliberate ramming of police vehicles constitutes a "serious and continuing threat" to frontline operational capability. The pilot scheme aims to:

• Refine the use of cameras in police vehicles.

• Identify a recognised standard for evidence extraction.

• Build evidence-based intelligence to minimise officer injury and fleet loss.

• Strengthen operational resilience and send a "clear message to offenders that using a vehicle as a weapon will not be tolerated."