Investigation launched after photographer secretly films police officer threatening to arrest him and make his day ‘living hell’
Gloucestershire Police officer allegedly swore and said ‘you’re lucky I didn’t knock you out’
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A police misconduct investigation has been launched after an amateur photographer claimed a traffic officer seized his camera and threatened to make his day a “living hell”.
The 26-year-old secretly filmed his conversation with the officer from Gloucestershire Police, during which he is threatened with arrest and told “you’re lucky I didn’t knock you out”, and later uploaded it to YouTube.
The man had been taking photographs at the scene of a crash in Churchdown, Gloucester, in which an 86-year-old pedestrian was fatally injured.
But he claimed that by the time he arrived on his way to the shops the ambulance had gone, there was no police tape up and he thought he “might as well get some photos” in what he believed to be a public place.
During the conversation, the officer, who describes himself as a sergeant, allegedly threatens and verbally abuses the photographer.
The video recording captures the officer apparently telling the man: “We'll nick you now and I'll make your day a living hell, cause you'll be in that cell all day.
“What I'll probably do is I will ask for you to be remanded in custody and I will put you before the magistrate.
“Just to turn up and start taking pictures, you're taking the piss aren't you?”
The camera was later returned after the officer apparently approved the pictures after looking through them.
Gloucestershire's Police and Crime Commissioner, Martin Surl, said he had called for the force to examine the incident “with the utmost urgency”.
“I have only seen the public facing evidence, but it appears the officer swore at a member of the public, follows that up by saying he was lucky not to have been assaulted by the police, is threatened with arrest, mistreatment and a remand in custody,” said Mr Surl, who met Chief Constable Suzette Davenport to discuss the incident.
““I appreciate the work of the police can be very challenging, but no matter what the situation they should deal with the public in a civil and responsible manner at all times.
“It is the responsibility of the Chief Constable to manage complaints against police officers, my role is to hold the police to account. It appears the officer involved has fallen far short of the behaviour expected and required by the Constabulary.
The man had been taking pictures near Tesco in Churchdown on 19 November last year. The pedestrian, who was treated at the scene, later died from her injuries.
A spokesman for Gloucestershire Police said: “All police officers in Gloucestershire take an oath to serve the public with respect to all people.
“Any officer found to breach this oath or any allegations or complaints made about officers are thoroughly and robustly investigated.
“Regarding this particular incident, there is currently a misconduct investigation ongoing and it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.”
The photographer, who asked not to be named, told the Gloucestershire Echo he had started taking pictures on his way to a local shop.
“I thought as I was local I might as well get some photos. I know I'm allowed to take pictures on public land,” the man said.
“At the time there was no police tape cordoning off the road, the ambulance had gone, everyone had gone.
“He asked what news organisation I worked for and I declined to comment.”
Additional reporting by PA