Up in the Air

Circumstances necessitated the use of my phone camera for today's blip. We were travelling back from Spain (Alicante to Luton) after our week away.  All went well with the journey fortunately as we had not really allowed sufficient time from villa to boarding but we had no holdups and even the check in desk was queue free!  I wanted to do some interior shots of Alicante airport, which is interesting architecturally, but there was only time for a quick bit of duty free shopping and buy some coffee.

There was some drama as we joined the M1 on our way home from Luton with a superb police chase and capture of someone.  The way the traffic was controlled into a 50mph speed (INCIDENT heading on the overhead notice boards) and then three police cars getting into the head of each of the three lanes and slowing everything down but not actually stopping us.  

The police cars then speeded up - we followed suit.  What they were actually doing was to create a gap between them and us to give space for what was to happen. The rest was like a well orchestrated dance. There was a flash of something as a car whizzed past us on the hard shoulder hotly pursued by two more police cars.  The first one of these was forcing the pursued car towards the centre forcing it to stop whilst the second was slowing us down again and keeping us all back by weaving around.  We could just see a group of cars near the central reservation but not what was happening.  I presume the wanted 'person' was swiftly arrested, bundled into one of the many police cars and taken away.  Within 5 minutes we were 'released' and resumed normal motorway speeds.  It was rather like being in a film. 

We were very impressed with the skill with which the police controlled what was, in fact, a potentially serious situation and kept everyone safe.
The timing of all this must have been to precise requirements which make it all the more impressive.

As I sit typing this, the jets are screaming their way into Luton airport.  I can't really grumble though as I was in one earlier today!  My blip, to fit today's wide angle challenge is the interior of my flight this morning! 

Thanks to Paladian for hosting this week and I will be taking over until the end of May, giving Hobbs a well earned break.  The next theme will be announced on Friday as usual.