Officers from the Essex Roads Policing Unit based at Chigwell were conducting road safety patrols across the county on Monday, 18 November when, shortly before 8pm, they received information that an uninsured car was on the move in the Basildon area.

The officers directed the Ford Focus to stop in The Nave, which it did.

Officers searched the car and found a quantity of cannabis and around £3,000 cash alongside a hammer.

While officers were talking to the driver, an officer leaned into the car to handcuff the man, and at the same time, the driver started the car and drove off across the road with the officer half in the car, at risk of being dragged along.

Cannabis found in the car

Head of Essex Police's Roads Policing Unit, Mr Adam Pipe, said: "Thankfully, my officer was uninjured, and he is being supported by colleagues and managers.

"No one comes to work to be assaulted or injured whilst they carry out their lawful duties, protecting our communities from harm.

"The Roads Policing Unit officers deal with a wide variety of offences, not just upholding road laws, because we know that there is a wider criminal use of our roads.

"Those who use vehicles to transport drugs across the county will be identified and will be arrested."

An 18-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, possession of drugs with intent to supply and possession of an offensive weapon remains in police custody.