Two police officers have been hospitalised after a stolen car rammed their vehicle in Western Australia's far north.
A spokesperson for WA Police said the stolen white ute was initially seen driving along a footpath in Kununurra, near Messmate Way, just before 4am on Thursday morning.
Police saw the vehicle a few blocks away on Barringtonia Avenue and tried to pull it over, while activating the police car's emergency lights and sirens.
The stolen ute then rammed the police car, damaging the front left bumper.
Shortly after, police abandoned a pursuit along the Victoria Highway.
They finally intercepted the vehicle on Barringtonia Avenue and the driver was arrested.
Two men, aged 19 and 20 are in custody, while both male officers, a constable and sergeant, sustained minor injuries.
Kimberley district Superintendent Craig Parkin said he was awaiting more detail about the incident before police could properly examine their response.
"Very dangerous behaviours by these young men, so we'll put (this incident) before the courts," he said.
"The officers aren't hurt from what I know ... they're fine."
WA Police Union acting president Paul Gale said the incident showed police needed greater legal protection, to allow them to take decisive action when trying to apprehend stolen cars.
"I believe this vehicle was heading towards a group of people which is why a police vehicle 'took it out' — if I can use that term ... certainly, stop the threat," he said.
"Our concern is we don't have the legal protection to actually conduct the type of manoeuvring we're doing, with the potential that someone, whether it be the offender, the police, or innocent bystander gets hurt."
Stolen cars and police chases remain ongoing issue
The issue of young people roaming the streets, stealing vehicles, and driving recklessly at night has long been a problem in the town.
Earlier this week a group of young people stole a buggy and ram-raided a local supermarket.
WA's crime statistics show stolen car rates have eased since record levels in 2021, however there are still typically about 10 a month, which is high for a town with a population of around 5,000 people.
Last year the shire strategically placed boulders and trees to help prevent stolen cars from ramming police and injuring pedestrians.
The incident comes as Indigenous advocates in the region call on both the state and Commonwealth to embrace long-term and multi-layered responses to youth crime.
Early last year, vision of a stolen car attempting to ram police alarmed community leaders, who said authorities needed more power to bring pursuits to a swift end.
Superintendent Parkin said extra police officers had been dealing with children on the street as part of special Kimberley-wide police operation.
"We're finding during the months of January and February there's a lot of young people [out on the street]," he said.
"During the month of December there was 320 young people engaged by Kununurra Police."
