London Ambulance Service has released a statement after a man was arrested on suspicion of assaulting police in Penge and was subsequently taken to hospital in a serious condition after claiming he ingested drugs.

At around 6.30pm yesterday (Wednesday), police were called to Penge High Street after the public reported a group of shoplifters in the area.

Officers pursued one man on foot and arrested him on suspicion of assault on police.

He was put in a police vehicle and taken to hospital after claiming to have ingested drugs – he remains in a serious condition.

A police vehicle stopped in Hayes Lane after two officers “reported feeling unwell”.

Crews from London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service were both sent to the scene after there were concerns that police may have been exposed to a chemical.

London Ambulance Service sent an ambulance crew, paramedics in fast response cars, an incident response officer and members of our Hazardous Area Response Team (HART).

London Ambulance Service treated three people at the scene and taking the two officers to hospital as a precaution.

London Ambulance Service said that the “remaining patient was taken to hospital by a third party”.

A spokesperson for Metropolitan Police said: “At around 18:30hrs police were called to reports of a group of shoplifters in Penge High Street. Officers responded and pursued one man on foot.

“The man was arrested on suspicion of assault on police. He was put in a police vehicle and taken to hospital after he claimed to have ingested drugs.

“On the way two officers in the vehicle reported feeling unwell and stopped in Hayes Lane.

“LFB and LAS attended after concerns that they might have been exposed to a chemical. However the incident has now been stood down. Both officers have gone to hospital as a precaution.

“The man arrested remains in hospital in a serious condition.”

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called at 7.40pm on Wednesday 21 August to reports of an incident at the junction of Hayes Lane and Kenwood Drive, Beckenham.

“We sent a number of resources to the scene, including an ambulance crew, paramedics in fast response cars, an incident response officer and members of our Hazardous Area Response Team (HART).

“Our crews treated three people at the scene, before taking two to hospital. The remaining patient was taken to hospital by a third party.”