POLICE have released a CCTV image of a man suspected of stealing a car and running down a female police officer in an attempt to escape arrest.

The blue Audi A4 was stolen in a burglary in Chatham last month.

The car was later spotted by a police patrol car in London. Officers followed the suspect through several streets in Southwark before the car came to a dead end.

Two uniformed constables, one male and one female, got out and approached the Audi, which was attempting to turn around. The female officer shouted at the driver to stop but the the Audi accelerated straight at her, mounting the pavement in the process.

The car struck her legs, pushing her forward so that she fell onto the bonnet of the car.

The driver then hurtled past the stationary police car with the officer still on the bonnet. She was flung from the bonnet, but managed to hold onto the vehicle, being dragged along for a short distance before losing her grip.

The Audi drove off and crashed almost immediately. The driver got out and ran from the car. He made his way to London Bridge railway station where he boarded a train.

The theft is understood to have happened in the early hours of Wednesday, September 5.

The driver is described as a light-skinned, black man, aged about 22, 5ft 11in, of a thin build with very short hair. He was wearing a green polo shirt, black trousers and black shoes.

Det Con Adrian Brown, of Southwark CID, said: “The officer was extremely lucky that her injuries were not more serious.

“This man deliberately drove the vehicle directly at her, and continued to drive even after knowing he had struck her. And despite the fact that she was being dragged along by the car he was driving, he showed no regard for her safety.

“I would urge anyone who has information about the identity of the man or who is aware of his whereabouts, to contact Southwark CID on 0207 2326254.”