Man, 22, is charged with theft of Thames Clipper boat 'after leading marine police on dramatic miles-long River Thames chase'
A man, 22, has been charged with the theft of a river boat that was intercepted by police in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Joseph Hawkridge - from Chatham, Kent - was charged with taking a conveyance without the owner’s consent and will appear in Thames Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
Specialist marine police officers swooped on the Thames Clipper vessel and seized control during a dramatic chase on the River Thames, near to London's Tower Bridge, this weekend.
Police received reports of a man jumping a security gate and stealing a river bus from Trinity Buoy Wharf in Poplar, east London.
Police say the marine support units, who had their blue lights illuminated, attempted to stop the vessel, which slowed but did not come to a stop.
Marine officers instead decided to board the Thames Clippers vessel, which was said to be travelling 'at speed' prior to police intercepting it, and took control of it.
The vessel was then taken to Canary Wharf dock.
Marine support units intercepted a Thames Clippers vessel after Metropolitan Police received reports that a man had jumped a security gate and took the river bus from Trinity Buoy Wharf in Poplar, east London
Police say the marine support units, who had their blue lights illuminated, attempted to stop the vessel, which slowed but did not come to a stop. Pictured: Library image of a training exercise by the Metropolitan Police Marine Police Unit and Royal Marines
A Met Police spokesperson said: 'A 22-year-old man from Kent has been charged with taking a conveyance without the owner’s consent in connection with the incident.
'Joseph Hawkridge, 22 (15.04.1998), of Chatham will appear in custody at Thames Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 31 August.'
A spokesperson said in an earlier statement: '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.
Police are said to have intercepted the river boat, reportedly near to Tower Bridge, on Saturday night
'He remains in police custody and the investigation continues.'
Thames Clipper previously said they were unable to comment due to the police investigation.
A spokesperson said: 'As this matter is the subject of an ongoing police investigation we are unable to comment at this time.'
Thames Clippers is a river bus service on the River Thames in London. It runs commuter services between eastern and central London, as well as tourist services.
Around 10,000 passengers use the service each day.
In June this year, America company Uber won the naming rights to the service, which has since been re-branded 'Uber Boat by Thames Clippers'.