A MAN wanted on recall to prison was given a "surprise" when he was arrested after he allegedly hit a passing police van. 

Police were in the Shirley area of the city when the incident happened on Thursday. 

The man made himself known to them by allegedly hitting the police van as it drove along Shirley High Street. 

After striking the vehicle, he stayed in the area and spoke with officers. 

But after being taken to the police station, police say the man was "racially abusive" to one of the arresting officers. 

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In a Facebook post by Southampton Cops, a spokesperson for the force said: "He surely didn’t know he was wanted by Police and Her Majesty’s prisons.

"It seemed to be a complete surprise to the chap when he was arrested and placed in the back of the Police Van."

Police were targeting the Shirley area as a result of crime data and community intelligence. 

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