Penge High Street arrest: Condition update of suspect

At around 6.30pm on 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 in a serious condition after claiming to have ingested drugs.

Today it has been confirmed that although he remains in hospital, he is not a life threatening 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 the Metropolitan Police said: “At around 18:30hrs on 21 August, 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. it is not being treated as a chemical incident.

“Both officers went to hospital as a precaution.

“The man arrested remains in hospital. His condition is not life threatening. “