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Think police pursuits in the US are chaotic? Now picture a 140 mph chase on a narrow British road, add several roundabouts, a suspect prepared to drive on the wrong side of them, and radio communication that sounds like a live game of chess. Dashcam footage released by Durham Constabulary in the UK last weekend delivers tension from start to finish. It also serves as a strong example of how effective a well-coordinated police response can be.

According to the description accompanying the video, officers from Durham’s Roads and Armed Policing unit were alerted in late June to a suspected stolen Audi S5 near Rushyford. Police say the 17-year-old driver refused to stop, and the car’s speed rapidly rose from 70 to 140 mph as officers attempted to get ahead of the Audi. More alarming still, the entire incident unfolded on roads that appear barely wide enough for the vehicles involved, with junctions and roundabouts arriving far too quickly for any sense of comfort.

Perhaps the most compelling aspect is not just the speed, but the way the officers coordinate with one another. Instead of simply following the Audi and waiting for a single pursuing vehicle to carry out a PIT manoeuvre, they work to hem it in. One unit heads towards Thinford to deploy a spike strip, while others reposition towards Metal Bridge after the Audi changes direction. The radio chatter remains strikingly calm, especially considering someone is driving a V-8-powered Audi through the countryside at triple-digit speeds.

The first attempt to contain the car looks like something out of Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, but it does not go entirely to plan; the Audi breaks through, though the contact appears to damage its front wheel. Officers report smoke as the pursuit continues at roughly 90 mph. A spike strip is eventually deployed, but even with damaged tyres, the Audi keeps going, cuts across the wrong side of a roundabout, and briefly manages to pull away once again.

That is where the officers’ coordination finally proves decisive. Several police vehicles, including BMW and Audi estates, move into position and box the S5 in. The Audi is forced to stop after further contact with the police cars, bringing an end to a pursuit that lasted only around six miles, though it feels much longer.

Police searching the Audi reportedly found keys for a Ford, Mercedes, BMW, and multiple Audis; several of them appear to have house keys attached. The teenager later pleaded guilty to offences including dangerous driving and burglary. Police say he has been remanded in custody pending sentencing in October.