Man charged with stealing Thames Clipper following miles-long police chase

Twenty-two-year-old from Kent to appear in court charged with taking vessel without owner’s consent

An Uber boat operated in partnership with Thames Clippers, travels along the River Thames as it passes under the Millennium Bridge, backdropped by the skyscrapers of the City of London on 3 August 2020. (Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP via Getty Images)

A man jumped a security gate and took a river bus before leading specialist marine police on a miles-long chase down the River Thames, officers said.

Police vessels rushed to intercept the Thames Clipper boat after it was snatched from Trinity Buoy Wharf, in Poplar, east London, at about 3am on Saturday.

Officers said they used their blue flashing lights in an attempt to stop the vessel, which slowed but did not come to a complete standstill.

Marine officers eventually boarded the ferry near Tower Bridge, about four miles away from where it was originally taken, before steering it to Canary Wharf dock where Metropolitan Police officers were waiting.

A 22-year-old man from Chatham, in Kent, has since been charged with taking a conveyance without the owner’s consent, a Metropolitan Police spokesperson said.

Joseph Hawkridge is set to appear in custody at Thames Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

Metropolitan Police said in an earlier statement: “On Saturday 29 August at 3.10am marine support units were called to reports that a man jumped over a security gate and stolen a Thames Clipper boat from Trinity Buoy Wharf.

“Marine support units intercepted the Clipper with the blue lights illuminated. The vessel slowed but did not come to a stop.

“Marine officers boarded and took control of the vessel and it was taken to Canary Wharf dock.

“They were joined by local units who arrested the man, aged in his 20s, on suspicion of burglary and theft.”

A spokeswoman for Thames Clipper added: “As this matter is the subject of an ongoing police investigation we are unable to comment at this time.”

Uber announced the launch of a boat service in London in partnership with Thames Clipper earlier this year.

The collaboration will see branded vessels operate between Putney and Woolwich, with passengers able to book tickets using the US-based company’s smartphone app.

It will be Uber’s first permanent commuter boat service. However, the service will still be run by Thames Clippers.