ACT Policing is ridiculed over video of three-hour car chase of Mercedes crawling through Canberra: ‘How many cop cars does it take?’

An Australian police force has been under attack following a lengthy three-hour chase after nearly a dozen police cars were filmed struggling to stop a silver Mercedes as it crawled through the city.

Footage posted online shows 11 ACT police cars waving their sirens as they followed the vehicle through Canberra’s CBD on the evening of September 2.

The Mercedes – which had studded tires – lurched through the city as police vehicles drove behind it.

But despite the heavy police presence, police apparently struggled to pull over the driver, who reportedly managed to lead the chase through several suburbs.

At one point, a police vehicle driving alongside the Mercedes appeared to try to cut off the car by going in front of it, but failed to overtake it in time.

The Mercedes managed to slip past and continued to crawl along the road, while the police car turning in front of it blocked the path of the other patrol units.

Meanwhile, other police officers set up a roadblock at the end of the street by parking their cars sideways along the lanes.

But once again the show of force from the ACT Police proved no match for the Mercedes driver, who was able to avoid them by turning left into an adjacent street.

The clip ends showing the Mercedes crossing the other side of a central reservation and driving head-on into the oncoming lane, while several police units continue to follow it from a distance.

The video has sparked mockery online as social media users dubbed the saga ‘Australia’s slowest police chase’, with many baffled as to why ACT police struggled to stop the Mercedes and outraged at how much the chase cost taxpayers has cost.

One person asked rhetorically, “who pays for the cars, fuel and wages?” while another sarcastically added: ‘public money well spent’.

“How many police cars does it take to stop a studded car going 20 miles per hour?” wrote a second person.

“All ACT police officers in one video,” another added.

“I swear I lost brain cells watching this stupidity,” someone else said. “These guys are paid to de-escalate scenarios. It seems to me they are extending it.”

However, others jokingly speculated that there was more to the story than meets the eye.

‘Good to see that they are finally cracking down on slow motorists here in Canberra. Really a nuisance on the road,” someone joked.

Someone else said: ‘They must be filming the new Fast and the Furious.’

“I thought this was in slow motion,” a third commented.

An ACT Policing spokesperson said police have arrested and charged a 23-year-old woman who they allege was the driver.

The spokeswoman said police will allege she led police on a chase that spanned several suburbs on Saturday, September 2, before being arrested in the early hours of the following morning.

‘Throughout the day the woman (allegedly) exhibited several examples of atrocious driving. An example of what one person does to endanger themselves and other road users.’

‘Fortunately, the actions of the police present resulted in no injuries and this woman was ultimately arrested and charged.

“Apprehending an offender in a vehicle is not like in the movies. Our paramount concern will always be public safety – and the outcome that no one involved in this case is injured is what we always strive for.”

Police allege the vehicle was stolen from a home in Macquarie between 8pm on Friday, September 1 and 9am on Saturday, September 2.

The woman has been charged with nine offences, including breach of bail, reckless driving, driving a stolen motor vehicle, refusing a screening test, failing to stop for police, failing to stop at a red light, unlawful possession of stolen property and damaging a vehicle. police vehicle.

Her case remains in court.