Putney crash: Teenage boy fighting for life after ramming stolen moped into bus during police chase in London

Seventeen-year-old crashes into a bus while being pursued by police officers

The incident took place on Putney High Street (Google Street View)

A teenage boy is fighting for his life in hospital after crashing a stolen moped into a bus while being chased by police.

The 17-year-old had the accident after failing to stop for officers in Putney, south-west London at 1.20am on Monday.

The Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards has been informed and will launch an investigation.

The latest incident comes amid heated debate over the controversial police tactic of ramming cars into suspected criminals on mopeds.

In December, Theresa May backed the police, saying a “robust” response was needed to stop people using the vehicles to commit crimes.

In the past, Scotland Yard has released dramatic footage showing police vehicles knocking suspects off their scooters.

Senior officers defended the use of “tactical contact”, saying it was needed to stop dangerous chases and has helped reduce moped-enabled crime in London by over a third.