Apparatus and method for deploying a vehicle arresting device

A system for deploying a vehicle arresting device (1) of the type comprising a net (3) or other flexible substrate intended to lie flat upon the ground with an array of upwardly-directed spikes (4) attached along its leading edge, and which is adapted to arrest a vehicle by penetrating and wrapping around its front tyres and pulling tight under the vehicle to stop further rotation of the wheels. The device is deployed across a road (2) from a folded condition on one side of the road through cables (6) and (7) attached to one side edge and wound in by a winch (5) on the opposite side of the road, while its other side edge is anchored by lanyards (12) and (13) on the first side of the road. The cables and lanyards each extend from the device at divergent oblique angles. The lanyards are themselves anchored to the ground at positions (14) and (16) spaced from the device so that it can self-correct in the fore and aft direction during deployment through arcuate movement of the lanyards about their anchor points.