A teenage moped rider is in critical condition in hospital following a 'tactical stop' carried out by police in Bexley.

Police spotted a moped with a pillion passenger driving dangerously in Eastern Way, Thamesmead, at around 1.20am on Tuesday (November 7).

Police said the passenger fled on foot from officers when he saw them.

According to a Met spokesmen, police then carried out a 'tactical stop' of the moped in the interests of other road users.

A 17-year-old boy was critically injured during the manoeuvre, which took place just before 2.20am.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission said the crash happened in the Erith section of Eastern Way. 

Police said they took him to hospital themselves as there was no ambulance crew available. 

A spokesman for London Ambulance Service said the moped rider had already been taken to hospital by the time they arrived on the scene. 

The spokesman said: "We were contacted by police at 2.20am on November 7. 

"The patient was not assessed to be in an immediately life-threatening condition from the information provided by police at the scene.

"At 2.28am we tried to make contact with police at the scene but they could not give us further information.

“At 2.47am a paramedic in our control room spoke to officers at the scene who confirmed the patient was conscious, breathing, sitting up and talking but did need an ambulance response.

“We dispatched an ambulance at 3.15am, which arrived at the scene at 3.22am, however, the patient had already been taken to hospital.”

LAS aim to get to patients in the rider's condition within two hours, and they said they had arrived on scene within one hour.

As is routine, the Directorate of Professional Standards have been informed.

The DPS have now referred the incident to the Independent Police Complaints Commission who have launched an independent investigation.

A spokesman for the IPCC confirmed to News Shopper that the moped driver remains in a critical condition.