Alex Hern

Dispatches from the front line of the internet

Met police statement contradicted by video

Does it look like a cyclist "fell off" his bike?

By Alex Hern Published 08 July 2012 13:31

A cyclist "falls off his bike".

Something happened on the Olympic torch relay as it went through Suffolk yesterday. Here's how the Metropolitan police described it to the BBC:

A male on a pedal cycle attempted to enter the security bubble around the torchbearer. The Met's torch security team prevented him from gaining access to the torchbearer and the male fell off his bike. He immediately got back on his bike and left.

Got that? Now watch the video of the event:

The two simply do not match up. Quite why the Met thought it was acceptable to give a statement when they weren't yet sure of what had happened is unclear. As concerning is the fact that the BBC, despite possessing footage of the event, didn't think it worth while to question the statement in any way.

The attitude of the police seems to have been to issue a statement exonerating officers entirely, then start looking into what actually happened. That may have worked ten years ago, but when those statements are put up alongside instantly available video, it does nothing but erode trust in the police force.

If you know the cyclist in the video, please encourage him to get in touch at alex.hern@newstatesman.co.uk

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More from Alex Hern

View the discussion thread.

55 comments

Tue, 2012-07-10 10:32 — Burbage (not verified)

"Quite why the Met thought it was acceptable to give a statement when they weren't yet sure of what had happened is unclear"

That looks very odd. Knee-jerk denials are in the remit of the IPCC, and if the Met starts treading on IPCC toes, it could be very damaging. The Federation won't like that at all.

Mon, 2012-07-09 20:05 — Gringo_h (not verified)

Pigs. Just purely and simply filthy pigs.

Mon, 2012-07-09 14:30 — Herbert (not verified)

'Quite why the Met thought it was acceptable to give a statement when they weren't yet sure of what had happened is unclear. As concerning is the fact that the BBC, despite possessing footage of the event, didn't think it worth while to question the statement in any way.'

Two sentences that sum up the practice of the police (lying bastards) and the media (servile). Always have been, always will be.

Mon, 2012-07-09 16:05 — Robert Taggart

Here, here ,here.
The 'Met' are an embarrassment to Lundun, and, Lundun being the first point of call for most visitors to Blighty - to Blighty also.
Oneself eats 'pig' for breakfast. Care to join the 'party' ?!

Mon, 2012-07-09 11:34 — Bill23 (not verified)

The simple fact that so many police are Freemasons proves that many of them are boarderline criminals.
Why do these people need to be part of a secret organisation; and the same applies to councillors: even Jerry White the Local Govenment Ombudsman is a mason and therefore a criminal by any normal standards.

Mon, 2012-07-09 14:33 — Herbert (not verified)

White retired as local government ombudsman on 30 September 2009. He may or may not be a mason, but you ought to try to keep up to date.

Mon, 2012-07-09 16:59 — Bill23 (not verified)

Thanks for the info, Ill make the same complaint under a different name and see what happens. By the way he admits to being a mason as does the chief constable of Dorset.
Fact is the masons caused my mothers death, so if you are one and want to reply, please include your name and address.

Mon, 2012-07-09 20:53 — Herbert (not verified)

I don't know one way or another, but if the masons are a 'secret organisation' how is it that White and the chief constable 'admit' to being masons? A bit of a contradiction don't you think?

Wed, 2012-07-25 05:36 — bill23 (not verified)

Wake up PC Herbert, ever seen utube?

Mon, 2012-07-09 08:57 — RossMh (not verified)

I've experienced first hand police lying or at the very least embellishing the truth when there's video to disprove their claims. It's downright scary and quite right that this should be brought into the public eye.

Not to tar all with the same brush but SOME police officers act as if they are above and not accountable to the law and also try to mislead the public in official statements. The availability of video evidence casts a lot of doubt in what is said.

In this case - was the boy in the wrong? Leaving aside my personal feelings about the Olympic torch relay and whether the security 'bubble' and convoy is warranted, yes - technically he was and shouldn't have got as close as he did.

However, was the police response APPROPRIATE ? No. Not at all, this young person clearly enjoyed the torch event and wanted to be part of it. He was no threat to anyone. Contrast this video with how other TST officers handled the two young boys who actually took hold of the torch last week, safely ushering them out of the way as opposed to throwing them to the ground in the path of a moving vehicle.

Incidents like this cause people to lose faith in, and respect for, the police. And maybe show that this increasing distrust isn't at all misplaced.

Mon, 2012-07-09 01:19 — Amy G (not verified)

OMG the kid was nowhere near the torch for a start and not only was he obviously a child there was no need to swing him around and drop him on the floor. If it was my kid I'd sue the bastards!!

Mon, 2012-07-09 00:32 — Denis Kelly (not verified)

What a scumbag. If he was in a 1st world country like Ireland he'd be down for 10 years but over here he'll be let off on a formality undoubtedly. Disgrace.

Mon, 2012-07-09 00:25 — John Bradley (not verified)

So if I see someone on a bike looking like they are going to come close to me or someone else, I'm allowed to hit them. The Cop didn't have any fear of violence and no real reason to suspect any law would be broken. So surely his actions are assault.

Mon, 2012-07-09 10:47 — New statesman Oombagoolah (not verified)

It is only assault if you do it to a copper, not the other way round. Everybody knows that!

Mon, 2012-07-09 00:21 — Dick Turpin (not verified)

Come to Irleland and we'll see if you do that!

Sun, 2012-07-08 21:50 — jaded48 (not verified)

Big deal...is this the best you can do? Wait until G4S are guarding you, then you will have something to moan about.
I didn't think it would be long before someone linked this incident to the Stockwell (not Streatham as above) shooting. Congratulations on being so predictable.

Mon, 2012-07-09 09:40 — Chris Lopekal (not verified)

Well, they would be me that raised that, and yes, my bad that I said Streatham rather than Stockwell but I live 10 minutes from both and have been writing a lot about Streatham so it's muscle memory that kicked in.

World you rather that I went back further, raising other cases where the police released one set of information that shaped the public consciousness and was later proven to be completely untrue?

How about the murder of Maxwell Comfait? That involved the disturbing interrogation of 3 children, that led to the P.A.C.E laws, and the police acted terribly and lied through their teeth about the case.

Maybe I should have said about Harry Stanley, or Blair Peach, or brought up the West midlands flying squad, or we could just stick with the phone hacking scandal and officers selling PNC information to investigators?

All of these cases constantly underline that the police (collectively and as each individual force) are just another corporation (which technically they are. You can find their registration at companies house) that are prepared to lie, obfuscate the truth and cover up their failings, especially when people get hurt or killed.

Mon, 2012-07-09 12:16 — Chris Lopekal (not verified)

Damn the NS for not allowing people to edit/delete posts as auto spellcheck on my phone made some glaring errors and also posted the comment three times, which is a bit unnecessary!

Mon, 2012-07-09 09:40 — Chris Lopekal (not verified)

World you rather that I went back further, raising other cases where the police released one set of information that shaped the public consciousness and was later proven to be completely untrue?

Mon, 2012-07-09 09:39 — Chris Lopekal (not verified)

World you rather that I went back further, raising other cases where the police released one set of information that shaped the public consciousness and was later proven to be completely untrue?

Sun, 2012-07-08 20:32 — Steve Lord (not verified)

He got stopped and in the process of being stopped he fell, as did the officer who stopped him. No-one hurt. Stop looking for conspiracy in semantics.

Mon, 2012-07-09 07:53 — fackface (not verified)

You must be another dirty copper. I suppose Ian Tomlinson deserved what he got too? We are constantly told the police have a difficult job so why make it harder by employing thugs who lie their way out of trouble. The police ask for the publics` support in these difficult times then treat us like scum. They used to say "one bad apple" now you would struggle to find a good one.

Mon, 2012-07-09 08:46 — jaded48 (not verified)

"Dirty copper?". Great opening line.Perhaps you are scum.FREEDOM FOR TOOTING!.

Mon, 2012-07-09 10:18 — fackface (not verified)

In the eyes of the police I am likely considered scum. I am a white, well educated, middle aged, hetrosexual tax paying Englishman which I believe makes me scum in this country now. I don`t go around making up stories to get others into trouble, I don`t deny anyone the right to express their views, I don`t over-react or look to be offended at the slightest remark, I don`t feel the need to covet a position of power over others because of my childhood, I don`t judge all children as "Chavs", scum or troublemakers based on nothing more than their age and apparell and I am not so niaive as to justify wrongs committed by the police just because they are "The Police." I have a mind of my own which is capable of seeing right and wrong and the police are consistently getting things wrong. They are becoming more like Mugabe`s henchmen everyday while braindead people like you defend them.

Mon, 2012-07-09 10:36 — jaded48 (not verified)

Please don't call yourself well-educated and then compare the British police to Zimbabwe's.Why don't you plastic Trots go to places like Zimbabwe/South Africa/Brazil etc etc to see real repression by the police.We have the softest police force in the world and the criminals laugh at us.

Mon, 2012-07-09 16:03 — fackface (not verified)

One other thing I like to consider myself more of a Nazi than a trot.

Mon, 2012-07-09 13:24 — fackface (not verified)

So are you saying that because our police are not so violent and corrupt as these other countries we should keep our mouths shut? Surely as the people who pay your wages and end up on the wrong side of your misplaced officious handling of events we have a right to voice our concerns. I am sure you do not like the fact we still have the right to free speech(though this is now very dubious) because as a member of the police you view us as the "them" of "them and us."
Take a look at events over the past few years with police officers being involved in the deaths or assaults of innocent people. There has been many mentioned already such as Tomlinson, Harry Stanley, and De Menzes but these are the tip of the iceberg. Every weekend in towns across the country the police have a gang mentality and abuse the powers given to them. They lie in courts up and down the land to see individuals convicted or to cover for their colleagues when they have stepped over the line. If the Police are serious about wanting public support they need to be transparent and come down hard on individuals who sully the police reputation. I personally think that if a Police officer commits any sort of crime, from speeding to perjury they should receive a five year minimum sentence and when they are involved in killing people they should receive no protection due to their career but actually receive more serious punishment as they "should know better." I would cast the first stone.
As for being laughed at, I do not think it is because you are soft, more because you employ people who have spent their entire childhoods being the joke. I am not aware of any decent individual who has been, is planning to be or is presently a member of the Police. I do know a number of people who fall within these categories and I would not employ them to look after my excrement. Most if not all carry huge chips on their shoulders and feel the whole of society should be grateful to them for doing "such a hard job!"
I would be interested in your comments surrounding such cases as Tomlinson(on going), Harry Stanley, Sgt Andrews, Delroy Vasey, Simon Rigg and J De Menzes and whether you can see that covering up these crimes is having an affect on the Public confidence in the Police.

Mon, 2012-07-09 14:18 — jaded48 (not verified)

You were doing so well keeping your madness covered up until the line "from speeding to perjury they should receive a five year minimum sentence".I did 35mph this morning on the school run,please prepare a cell for me...........
After the "you pay my wages" comment please feel free to insert any of the following; " you were bullied at school","who's sha@@ing your wife when you're on nights?","take your uniform off and meet me later","you only stopped me cos I is black" etc etc. I've never heard any of those for about five minutes so please consider them original comments.
Anyway back in the real world-police have millions of interactions with the public and criminals every year.One or two go wrong and they get quoted ad naseum as if they are the norm.When you are dealing with human beings no system is perfect.I'm sure when you are at work you have never once made a mistake.

Mon, 2012-07-09 17:03 — Bill23 (not verified)

"One or two": proof that the police can't count. You would do better to employ skippy the bush kangaroo.

Mon, 2012-07-09 16:00 — fackface (not verified)

No I have certainly made mistakes but the difference is I am happy to hold my hands up and accept the consequences. The police seem to have an inability to do this and as I said in my previous comment this damages their reputation. If you did do 35mph and break the limit can you not see the hypocrisy if you are now to ever give a ticket out for this same offence. The top and bottom of it is that many police officers who are now joining the force are social misfits with chips on their shoulders. More and more members of the public are becoming disillusioned with the police, there must be a cause. I am aware that human nature does prevent a perfect system so all the more reason that when an officer does cross the line he should be severly punished. If rules/judgements are biased when a police officer is involved it helps to destroy the public faith. If I was a member of the police I would be more disappointed than the public that my colleagues were damaging the Polices` reputation. Look further into the Tomlinson case for example and there is evidence of a blatant cover-up. The Coroner used to do the first autopsy was under investigation by the met and not on the list as being allowed to carry out autopsies in this sort of case. He didn`t meet criteria such as being part of a practice with atleast 3 members yet he carries out the autopsy and finds he died of natural causes. No mention of internal bleed which is now the accepted cause of death. The case only continued due to a tourist sending the video into the Guardian else the family would not of had a chance at justice. Why did the other officers present not reprimand Pc Harwood at the time? This was surely an assault they had witnessed yet they are standing in court and saying he used reasonable force. Can you not see how ridiculous this sounds when the video is plain to see and there is a man dead? Where is the respect? If a teacher were to hit a child like that he would quite rightly be in serious trouble, the police would arrest and charge him. Can you justify this?
I accept mistakes will be made and people will twist events to try and blame the police for events which may well be no fault of the Police but when you have high profile cases coming to light with evermore frequency you need to look at yourselves and root out those who are commiting these acts. As previously said these officers should know better. I am quite prepared to stand by all the statements I have made and I do pay towards your wages. As a member of the tax paying public I have the right to expect that my money is better spent and expect an honest police force which is there to protect and serve. If officers are abusing the system in any way they should be severly dealt with.
I asked you comment on individual cases yet get no response, are you embarassed by any of these cases?

Mon, 2012-07-09 19:16 — jaded48 (not verified)

As you have asked so nicely;
Simon Rigg-very mentally unstable and violent,not taken his medication.
Delroy Vasey-couldn't find that case on the internet.
Ian Tomlinson-ongoing,no verdict yet.In my opinion the next time this man fell over he would have died,he was a medical time-bomb.
Sgt Andrews-found not guilty.
Harry Stanley-1999 case,IPCC recommended no charges.
Blair Peach-1979 case,nothing ever proved.
Maxwell Comfait-1972 for God's sake.
De Menzes-terrible police mistake I accept.
None of the above cases involved me.I realise in a massive organisation there will be dodgy officers but the problem is nowhere near as big as you imagine.
Please mention again that you pay my wages,I had forgotten.Do you say that to firemen,nurses,MP's etc or just the police?
Everyone is an expert in doing my job,except me it appears!

Tue, 2012-07-10 14:24 — scampsuzi (not verified)

You spent most of your time defending apalling police actions and grudgingly accept that the DeMenzes was a terrible police mistake which incidentally the police did thier very best to cover up. I have a friend who fairly recently served as a PCSO, he left completely disgusted at how bone idle and corrupt the Police he worked with were. No smoke without fire I think. I have long thought that this country is policed by the good nature and law abiding nature of its citizens and has little to do with Mr. Plod who these days is very likely to be overweight and very unfit and very lazy. How often do you see the police doing anything other than drive around? Why do police attend call outs with blues and twos, to scare the villains off? The police seem to be turning into thugs who no longer address members of the public as sir but rather as mate or fella, why is that? This shows a complete lack of respect which can only lead to reciprocal behaviour by the public. A lot needs to be done for respect to be regained and a little good manners goes a long way!!

Tue, 2012-07-10 09:12 — fackface (not verified)

You are part of a very corrupt organisation. In the cases I have listed there has been overwhelming evidence pointing at police officers being at the very least negligent but in my opinion guilty of murder/manslaughter or assault yet they have gotten away with it. What is your opinion on these cases? Do you think the police officers actions in each of these cases was correct? Do you think that if someone was to go and push over an old woman who was particularly frail and she died that the offender is less guilty of being a cause of her death? Why when the new police caution infers that if you don`t mention now something you later rely on in court the court may hold this against you, did the police federation tell the officers in the Simon Rigg case not to make a statement? Surely you can see this is going to damage public trust in the police. Its like a doctor refusing to treat a patient.
Sgt Andrews was found guilty by a jury and his superior officer came out after the trial to say that basically you weed out the bad apples within the force and as could quite clearly be seen in the video that his actions were not what was expected of his officers. He subsequently(and very quickly rushed through) was released on an appeal(not a retrial), is now working for the police again and also suing them. Do you think this is acceptable?
In the Harry Stanley case an innocent man was gunned down in the street for carrying a table leg he had repaired. The police armed response teams drew together and threatened industrial action if any officer was charged and thats why the IPCC(Part of the Police anyway in my humble opinion) did recommend no charges. Yet an innocent man is still dead, explain?
I could go on about the other cases and many more.
As you say there will be dodgy officers in such a large organisation but for the good of the organisation it should not sacrafice justice to protect its own. In fact as I have already stated it should come down harder as officers are given blind trust by much of the public and that should be precious.
I have said to a doctor who I felt was not giving my father ample care after in my opinion he had had a stroke that his wages were paid by people such as my father and I because the situation required it. You are a member of the civil service, paid for by tax payers so I do therefore feel we should be allowed to criticise or call for change.
On the point regarding Ian Tomlinson where you have decided you are a doctor, I am also and I do not believe we should look for the killer of Ian Dibell because Dibell was 41 he was going to die soon, I think he might of had cancer! Do you see my point?
You are defending the indefensible as the police do when its one of their own. It makes the whole organisation look foolish. Then again you can not make silk purses out of sows ears.

Tue, 2012-07-10 18:03 — jaded48 (not verified)

I am allowed to disagree with you.
Critics of the police make massive sweeping statements that are never challenged.I once got ripped off by a plumber.Is it right that I now believe that every plumber is a crook? Of course not.
Good luck anyway,in a few years police like me will on the way out and you can send your complaints into the board of G4S.

Mon, 2012-07-09 11:40 — Bill23 (not verified)

You are wrong. Most petty criminals respect the police. They see crime as a game, and so do many police.
We deserve better!

Sun, 2012-07-08 19:15 — jankaas (not verified)

ffs what a bunch of amateurs. does remind me of one of my fave jokes ever;

Q: how many policemen does it take to crack an egg?

A: "Your Honour, The egg fell down the stairs of its own accord."

Sun, 2012-07-08 19:15 — Royston Jones (not verified)

There's a lovely photo of these goons in Derry. Confronted by a Republican demonstration they look much less cocky and ready to get 'involved'.

Sun, 2012-07-08 18:44 — simoned

Hmm, it does seem an over reaction but it's somewhat justified. The boy started accelerating and veering left towards the torch bearer. The policeman could have easily just grab the backseat of the bicycle and stop him. jocuri

Sun, 2012-07-08 18:19 — John Harding (not verified)

Having watched the video,I would ask why the police officer saw fit to drag the boy and the bike across the path of the car rather than turn him away. Looks like a panic response to me.

Sun, 2012-07-08 16:50 — Dave H (not verified)

Err - my viewing of that video says the Met's statement is pretty accurate!

"A male on a pedal cycle attempted to enter the security bubble around the torchbearer"

He can clearly be seen cycling alongside the group and then turning in and accelerating on the inside of one of the grey-dressed members of the Met security team.

"The Met's torch security team prevented him from gaining access to the torchbearer and the male fell off his bike."

I can see some people disagreeing with the word 'fell', although I think that is technically accurate.

"He immediately got back on his bike and left."

Video certainly doesn't show that this isn't the case.

I am confused about what you lot think the statement should have said?

Mon, 2012-07-09 08:04 — fackface (not verified)

Are you a copper by any chance? Whats your view on Ian Tomlinson, Blair Peach,
Jon Charles De Menzes, Harry Stanley, Liddle Towers to name but a few of the people the police have murdered over the years. I suppose you think they all deserved what they got I mean fancy running to catch a tube, What was he thinking? The sooner the general public realise what a bunch of thugs and criminals the police now are and seriously turning against them the better. I hope I see the day the streets and running with officers blood.

Sun, 2012-07-08 17:01 — PJC (not verified)

He didn't 'fall' he was actively pulled off and wrestled to the ground by someone far larger than him.

Sun, 2012-07-08 16:44 — Christine Burns (not verified)

Isn't this how last year's riots started?

Sun, 2012-07-08 21:56 — Dave H (not verified)

No.

Sun, 2012-07-08 16:41 — Jon B (not verified)

Looks like assault to me.

Sun, 2012-07-08 16:40 — PJC (not verified)

Well if I was that boy, I'd do them for assault. Looked like a massive over-reaction to me.

Sun, 2012-07-08 14:59 — Mike45 (not verified)

Sick to death with the whole Olympics hype already. It is like North Korea. What gives these people the right to assault the kid on the bike like some third world dictatorship?
Of course we all have to pray at the altar of this expensive corporate farce.

Sun, 2012-07-08 14:58 — James P Smith (not verified)

Met statement says "a male on a pedal cycle attempted to enter the security bubble". Repeated verbatim by the BBC. Actual footage shows a young boy cycling along with the torch". Is the BBC biased? Check these other reports....

Not really rough stuff...just "in charge"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18645207

"Snatched" Really?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18671509

Are the torch security team light handed?

How about this helpful final shove by the Met officer...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-18575973

Sun, 2012-07-08 14:16 — Steve Jones (not verified)

So the police said something that, while technically true, doesn't convey the full facts of an incident. Fair enough. But why do you want to give more publicity to the idiot on the bike?

Mon, 2012-07-09 08:18 — fackface (not verified)

Were you never a child? Is he an idiot? Do you know him personally? Do your children ever do anything wrong?(I`m sure if they do you have already taught them to lie their way out of it) The whole thing about being a child is you will make childish mistakes but adults are supposed to know better. This officer should be spoken to about the matter and given advice on how to deal with it in a better manner. The person who fabricated the press release should be sacked as should any officer who is ever found to fabricate evidence. The problem would be that no officers would be left, they are all guilty of lying to defend eachother not realising they are destroying the publics trust. We taxpayers are paying these scumbags surely we deserve better.