An East London man has accused the police of brutality after a video emerged of his arrest last night.
The man, known as Zak, said he was assaulted at around 8pm yesterday outside The Arbour Youth Centre.
According to his account he was approached by a police officer out of an unmarked vehicle while he was in his car cleaning his dashboard. Another officer did a vehicle and identity check and told him he was free to go. Then another officer used a blunt instrument to forcefully open his petrol cap and he was subjected to a violent ordeal after being accused of spitting at the officer (which he denies).
The man commented: “I have no dealings with the police, nor am I known to the police, wanted, nor was I in the process of committing a crime or equipped to carry out an offence…. this video is only out here to raise awareness in this day and age of heightened security and terror threats I could have been tasered or shot or pepper sprayed for no reason… I was not even read my rights and I had to inform them of this duty, so this whole ordeal has been unlawful! Please be careful.”
Meanwhile, the Mayor of Tower Hamlets John Biggs said he was very alarmed by the video and the description of what happened and has demanded an urgent meeting and explanation from the Borough Commander.
He said: “We clearly need an investigation of this incident and why the officer appears to have acted so aggressively. I understand many in our community will be understandably angry at what they have seen but I would urge a calm response.
“If the actions in this video are what they appear, then we need to see action from the police and a full apology given. Our community needs to have faith and confidence in the police who serve us. Incidents like this threaten to destroy that trust and undo years of work to build closer relations between the police and our community.”
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5Pillars is awaiting comment from the police.
