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Met ‘will speak to officer’ about video of black cyclist supposedly stopped for anti-social behaviour

Many have suggested that the cyclist was only stopped because he is black

The Metropolitan Police has said it will speak to the officer who accused a cyclist of anti-social behaviour “to understand the full circumstances of the entire interaction.” A public complaint has been recorded after footage of the incident emerged earlier this week. Many have suggested that the cyclist was only stopped because he is black.   

On Wednesday a video was posted to Twitter showing a Metropolitan Police officer accusing a cyclist of “anti-social behaviour”.

“Does this look like anti-social behaviour to you?” the cyclist asked the officer, gesturing at his bike.

She replied that it did, arguing that among other things, he was not wearing a helmet, hi-vis clothing or displaying a licence plate on his bike – none of which is a legal requirement.

The Met confirmed that a public complaint had been made about the incident.

A spokesperson said: “At around 20:20hrs on Tuesday, 30 June officers on patrol noticed a male riding his pushbike on the pavement in Upney Road, Barking.

“Officers approached him and stopped him to discuss the manner of his cycling.

“He was asked where he was going and he said he was going home.

“The man was not searched, was not arrested and after a short time he was allowed on his way.

“Police are aware of a video circulating on social media showing an officer providing advice to the man.

“We will speak to the officer to understand the full circumstances of the entire interaction and the advice that was given.

“A public complaint has been recorded and this will be assessed by the Met’s Department of Professional Standards.”

Last week a black teenager spoke of how he was knocked off his bike into thorny bushes by a plainclothes Metropolitan Police officer who also threatened him with a stun gun. The 13-year-old had been undertaking a charity bike ride with his father.

Both father and son were handcuffed before being released. Officers incorrectly suspected them of having been involved in a stabbing in a nearby park.

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18 comments

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Cupov | 4 years ago
7 likes

"Police are aware of a video circulating on social media showing an officer providing advice to the man."
well that's one way of putting it...
 

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timbodevans replied to Cupov | 4 years ago
6 likes

It's the totally unneccessary attitude that riles me. I believe there is a dual prejudice by the police against non-white people and cyclists in general. As a middle-aged white male I have received unpleasant attitude from police whilst wearing a helmet & hi-viz and one time whilst being helped into an ambulance after a car had pulled across in front of me to enter a sidestreet - you would have thought the accident had been my fault! A change to a more pleasant approach would lead to a much better attitude in response from civilians who are stopped. The whole force needs retraining.

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Colin Peyresourde replied to timbodevans | 4 years ago
0 likes

I suppose you think they receive polite and friendly faces every time they deal with the public. It's a job that would test your patience. It would test my patience dealing with smug little piss takers like the chap in the video. 

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hawkinspeter replied to Colin Peyresourde | 4 years ago
8 likes

Colin Peyresourde wrote:

I suppose you think they receive polite and friendly faces every time they deal with the public. It's a job that would test your patience. It would test my patience dealing with smug little piss takers like the chap in the video. 

I'm sure that it is a very difficult job (I personally wouldn't have the patience to deal with the public).

How best do you think the police should be dealing with 'piss takers'? Should they be spending time stopping them for various made up reasons or should they be building relationships with them and gaining their trust?

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eburtthebike replied to Colin Peyresourde | 4 years ago
6 likes

Colin Peyresourde wrote:

I suppose you think they receive polite and friendly faces every time they deal with the public. It's a job that would test your patience. It would test my patience dealing with smug little piss takers like the chap in the video. 

When you aren't trusted, when people view you as the enemy, they will take the piss.  When they know that you are there to help them and to prevent crime, not to harass them, you'll get respect.

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Hirsute replied to Colin Peyresourde | 4 years ago
5 likes

When did asking the question "Is this being anti-social" become taking the piss?

Did you actually watch the video? What exactly would you have said in response to being told you are anti social on the basis of no hiviz, no helmet and no licence plate ?

Presumably with 1850+ posts here, you have a bloody good idea how most posters on here would respond. 

I'm actually missing Behind The Beast Mode on this topic.

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eburtthebike replied to Hirsute | 4 years ago
0 likes

hirsute wrote:

When did asking the question "Is this being anti-social" become taking the piss?

Did you actually watch the video? What exactly would you have said in response to being told you are anti social on the basis of no hiviz, no helmet and no licence plate ?

Presumably with 1850+ posts here, you have a bloody good idea how most posters on here would respond. 

I'm actually missing Behind The Beast Mode on this topic.

Where's the delete button?

 

 

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psychle replied to Colin Peyresourde | 4 years ago
5 likes

Oh, here you go again. This time it’s ‘smug little piss takers’. I think you’re a very unhappy fellow. Chill out. Go for a bike ride.

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Spokesperson replied to Colin Peyresourde | 4 years ago
2 likes

I take it you're white. He's not smug or taking the piss, just tak...en aback that a bizzy can know so little about the law.

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ultimobici replied to Colin Peyresourde | 4 years ago
4 likes

There's a saying from the services that applies just as well to the police. "If you can't take a joke, you shouldn't have joined". Pulling someone over for cycling on a pavement is one thing, citing lack of helmet & hi-viz and failure to display a licence plate, none of which are a requirement anywhere in the UK fir cyclists is just idiotic. 

Colin Peyresourde wrote:

I suppose you think they receive polite and friendly faces every time they deal with the public. It's a job that would test your patience. It would test my patience dealing with smug little piss takers like the chap in the video. 

Avatar
roubaixcobbles replied to Colin Peyresourde | 4 years ago
4 likes

I'm sure had the "chap" been a white city broker on his way to work politely questioning the staggering ignorance of the incompetent, ignorant and aggressive officer you would have called him a smug little pisstaker as well?

Your racism oozes like puss from every syllable of your post.

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Anglepoise replied to timbodevans | 4 years ago
5 likes

It's her seemingly complete and utter lack of understanding as a law enforcer of the highway code which scares me.

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FluffyKittenofT... replied to Anglepoise | 4 years ago
3 likes

It's the "licence plate" bit that really pushes it over the edge into a real-life NT9OCN sketch. How clueless about the law would you have to be to think cyclists are supposed to have licence plates? It's one step short of charging the guy with 'stepping on the cracks in the pavement'.

I find it really hard to imagine a police officer could be that out-of-touch with reality, so that leaves the conclusion that they just made it up in the moment because they wanted to have a go at the guy for some other reason entirely.

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Sriracha replied to FluffyKittenofTindalos | 4 years ago
0 likes

I share your skepticism. Maybe she said "you haven't got your lights displayed"? Not much better, I grant you, but more within the realms of probability.

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Butty replied to Anglepoise | 4 years ago
1 like

What other "laws" does this specimen believe are real and worthy of detaining the public? 

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Sriracha replied to Butty | 4 years ago
0 likes

"Specimen"?

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Hirsute | 4 years ago
1 like

I'm transferring you to the SPG

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eburtthebike | 4 years ago
2 likes

I'd love to be a fly on the wall when they speak to her.

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