A teenager hospitalised after his scooter collided with another vehicle while being pursued by Camden police remains in critical condition.

Just after midnight yesterday police attempted to stop a number of scooters in the Camden area.

A short while later, one of the scooters carrying a pillion passenger was in collision with a car in Crowndale Road, Mornington Crescent.

Police confirmed it was being pursued by a police car with blue flashing lights at the time.

The two teenagers on the scooter were rushed to a central London hospital. One has since been discharged but the other, an 18-year-old male, remains in critical condition.

The incident comes not long after new guidance was issued by the Met Police stating officers should only pursue mopeds or motorcycles through the streets of London in “exceptional circumstances”.

It states where possible police helicopters should take up any pursuit.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) confirmed it had launched an investigation into yesterday’s incident.

A spokesman for the IPCC said: “The IPCC is investigating police involvement in a road traffic incident in Camden, north London, in the early hours of Friday 1 May in which an 18 year old man has suffered serious injuries.

“The young man was the driver of a Yamaha scooter that collided with a vehicle driven by a member of the public in Crowndale Road. Two officers in a patrol car had activated their blue lights and were following the scooter at the time of the collision.

“The young man is being treated in a central London hospital and his pillion passenger has been treated and discharged from the same hospital.

“IPCC investigators attended the scene of the collision and footage from an in car police camera has been downloaded and viewed and CCTV from the area is being gathered. The two officers in the patrol car involved have provided their initial accounts and house to house enquiries have started.”

IPCC Commissioner Jennifer Izekor added: “The IPCC independent investigation will be closely examining the actions of the police leading up to this serious collision. Our investigators have met with the young man’s parents to explain our role.”

A Met Police spokesman said: “At approximately 00:20hrs, today, Friday, 1 May, police officers tried to stop a number of scooters in the Camden area.

“A short while later one of the scooters carrying a pillion passenger was in collision with a car in Crowndale Road.

“London Ambulance Service attended and two teenage boys were taken to a central London hospital. One has since been discharged; the other remains in a critical condition.

“The Directorate of Professional Standards has been informed.

“The matter has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) who have launched an independent investigation.”