ULEZ protesters claim Met Police used excessive force as video shows woman knocked to ground
| Published date | 12 April 2024 |
| Publication title | MyLondon (England) |
In a second clip, a woman is heard shouting an allegation that police 'had her by the hair', though the camera is pointed in a different direction. A third video shows an officer gently pushing a woman back, as she appears to be trying to get through to another protester who's surrounded by police.
Martin Whitehead, 61, a plasterer living in Beckenham, was arrested by police. He claimed: "We'd been there for about half hour when the police turned up in big numbers demanding that we disperse under section 42. After a while we decided to pack everything away and leave.
"I headed towards my car which was behind the police line and was told I couldn't go there. A police officer told me that once the area was clear I would be allowed to my car. Very shortly after that the police moved forward and started arresting people."
Mr Whitehead alleges that an officer had 'eyes like a wild animal' and 'suddenly pounced on him' as he carried things back to his car having 'already packed up everything he was told to'. He added: "I was a bit confused as to what to do at this point and a police officer started shouting at me to put my placard down and very quickly grabbed hold of me along with two other officers and frog marched me around into a side street pushing me up against the side of a house.
"My arm was being pushed so far up my back I was screaming in pain. I also received a cut to my forehead. My shoulder is still sore from the incident."
'You've got three seconds to move or I'm arresting you'
Ally Young, 49, a former specialist education teaching assistant, lives in Old Windsor but attends protests in London 'every Saturday'. She said: "I saw an opportunity to take my dinosaur suit off [which I wear to protest about ULEZ]. I sat on the pavement to take it off. A chap on the right said, 'you've got three seconds to move or I'm arresting you'."
Ms Young added: "I have a neurological balance disorder, so I am unable to lift feet up and change standing [...] They arrested me. My friend was behind as he knew I'd need help up. They arrested him, too." She admitted that she and other received 'instructions not to...
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