A POLICE officer has thanked the public for helping restrain a man who was slitting his own throat.

Members of the public rushed to the aid of police officers who were trying to arrest the man in Orpington High Street on May 22.

The man, in his 30s, had thrown an advertising board through a window of the Superdrug store.

Police reported the man drove into a garden in Saltwood Close, Chelsfield, at about 2pm before abandoning his vehicle and walking into Orpington town centre.

Officer-in-charge Sergeant Philip Spaul said: "My colleagues and I would like to thank members of the public for their overwhelming help and support at the scene of the incident."

Police say the the injured man is making a good recovery in hospital.