Police watchdog to probe handcuffing of black mother wrongly accused of bus fare evasion

Police treatment of a mother who was handcuffed and wrongly arrested for bus fare evasion in front of her tearful young son will be investigated by a watchdog.

Video footage of the woman shouting as two male Metropolitan Police officers hold her arms and handcuff her in Croydon, south London, on Friday July 21 has led to criticism.

She was arrested after being accused of failing to pay a bus fare. Officers said she had refused to show her pass to a Transport for London (TfL) ticket inspector.

The woman was later de-arrested when it was confirmed she had paid the fare.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said a complaint had been made accusing police of racially profiling the woman, who is black.

She is also alleged to have been verbally abused by an officer.

The IOPC began assessing the footage on Monday and has launched a full investigation.

IOPC director Steve Noonan said: “We know that footage of the woman’s arrest has been widely shared on social media and has caused significant community concern, with questions raised about the actions of the police officers involved.

“We have decided that an independent investigation is required to establish the full circumstances, including the actions and decisions made by the MPS officers.”

On Monday, Met Police Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said: “It is clear from the video that has been shared online that this incident was distressing for the woman involved and particularly for her child.

“We understand why it has prompted significant public concern and we want to be transparent about our position and the role of our officers.”

He said officers had been working with TfL ticket inspectors in Windmill Road, Croydon, and only became involved when customers without a valid ticket refused to provide personal details for a fine to be issued.

He added: “The woman involved in this incident was asked to provide her ticket as she got off the bus, but did not do so.

“She was spoken to by a TfL inspector, then by a police community support officer (PCSO), and finally by a police officer. She continued to try to walk away and did not provide her ticket for inspection.

“She was arrested on suspicion of fare evasion and was handcuffed. When officers were able to take her ticket from her so that the TfL inspectors could check it, they were able to confirm it was valid.

“She was immediately de-arrested and her handcuffs were removed. Throughout the incident, the child was comforted by a PCSO who immediately recognised his distress.

“Anyone seeing how upset he was would be moved by this, and we regret any impact it may have on him. We recognise that the use of handcuffs can be a cause of concern, particularly given the context of this incident and the type of offence involved, but when a person is trying to physically leave an incident it is an option officers can consider.”

LBC reported that a bus worker called Joe accused the arrested woman of being abusive to staff and police.

He told breakfast show host Nick Ferrari: “The inspector told her to please show the pass and she started being abusive to the inspector.

“And when the police asked her to show the pass, she started abusing the police as well. She could have just shown the pass and walked away and that would have been the end of the matter.”

Footage posted online shows the woman shouting “What the hell?” and “What the f*** is going on?” while handcuffed, as two male officers hold her arms.

She repeatedly asks one of the officers to let go and says “I haven’t done anything wrong”, while a member of the public films what is happening and asks why she is being arrested.