TWO policemen escaped serious injury last week after a pair of boltcutters was slung into the windscreen of their van. The officers were showered with glass as the heavy steel cutters were thrown into the windscreen...

TWO policemen escaped serious injury last week after a pair of boltcutters was slung into the windscreen of their van.

The officers were showered with glass as the heavy steel cutters were thrown into the windscreen by a passenger on a moped as it passed the marked police van at the junction of Boleyn Road and Pellerin Road in Stoke Newington at about 12.45am on Friday.

Luckily, the driver was able to brake, even though he suffered extensive bruising to his right shoulder where the boltcutters hit him.

The other officer was unhurt.

The two men got out of the van in time to see the two suspects on the moped continue south along Boleyn Road and head west at the traffic lights.

Both were wearing helmets. The moped had a distinctly loud exhaust.

Det Con Sean McElroy, of Stoke Newington police station, said the boltcutters, which are about two feet long, were being sent to a forensic laboratory to determine whether they had been used in any recent burglaries.

He said the suspects were looking at a charge of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent.

"If the bolt cutters had hit one of the officers in the head, the injuries could have been horrendous," he added.

"These individuals have shown absolutely no regard for the safety of police officers and it is only through sheer luck that the officer involved was not more seriously injured."

"We are very keen to catch these dangerous individuals."

Det Con McElroy can be contacted on 020 7275 3139.