Mark McGregor BBC News in East Yorkshire

Traffic officers are given an intensive four-day course

Traffic is slowing down ahead so Burton takes the only avenue open to him - the hard shoulder.

As he races past the horrified afternoon motorists, he sees three police cars stalking in front of the queue, deliberately slowing the traffic.

The trap has been sprung.

Now clear of the M18's commuters - who are being held back by a safety car - the patrol vehicles close in.

Even from an outsider's viewpoint it is clear there is no escape for Burton - or car criminals across East Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire.

But this has not always been the case.

It is all about working as a team. I know that my colleagues are going to do what their job is and we can all bring it to a nice, safe finish Pc Matty Wright

In September 2003 Humberside Police announced they were suspending high-speed pursuits because of fears over safety, prompting accusations car thieves were being given an easy ride.

Last month, after more than a year of relying on other methods to snare car thieves, the force reintroduced the policy using nationally approved Tactical Pursuit and Containment (TPAC) tactics.

"The inability to go after people who steal cars has been a real disability for us," Assistant Chief Constable Alan Leaver told BBC News.

"It would be unacceptable to say to car criminals, 'We are never going to go after you'. It is a tactic we have to have available to us but one we have to use sparingly."

Civilian deaths in crashes involving police emergency calls (Source: Home Office) 1998/00 - 11 2000/01 - 18 2001/02 - 23 2002/03 - 20 2003/04 - 30

The re-introduction of the policy appears to be working. Figures up until the end of January show that the force embarked on 31 pursuits with 16 positive outcomes and 31 arrests.

By April 2005 about 150 drivers and 25 command controllers in the force area will be trained in TPAC tactics after an intensive course.

Trainer Pc Stuart McClusky said: "They are trying to develop skills to bring pursuits to a safe conclusion without danger to members of the public, pursued drivers - or themselves."

Patrol vehicles prepare to box-in the suspect car

In 2003/04, 30 members of the public were killed in England and Wales because of police emergency calls - in 1998/1999 it was only 11.

A Home Office spokesman said: "The police have to strike a fine balance between responding promptly to emergencies and apprehending offenders, and ensuring the safety of the public."

Back in the silver Mondeo, Burton is still driving at upwards of 80 mph with just inches separating the car and the police vehicle in front - not to mention the two to his right.

No chance

Sensing a chance to apply the brakes, he checks his rear view mirror - only to see more flashing blue lights immediately behind him.

Boxed-in and with nowhere to go, he gives in to the inevitable and slows to a complete standstill.

In the space of 10 minutes Burton, a plain-clothed Pc with Humberside Police, was spotted, pursued, contained and led away before the rest of the traffic - slowed down about a mile behind by the safety car - caught up.

"I've never got away yet," he mutters, pulling on his baseball cap.