Footage has been shared on Twitter (scroll down for video) of the moment when a brave off-duty police officer detained a male who was suspected of having been involved in a knifepoint robbery.
In the video, the officer can be seen holding the suspect on the ground as he asks members of the public to call 999 for him.
In the crowd, made up of adults and teenagers, it is a teenager who comes forward to assist the off-duty officer by calling 999. The officer asks the teenager who is calling the police, to explain to the operator that the officer needs ‘urgent assistance’.
‘Urgent assistance’ is the standard term used by Met Police officers – both on and off duty – when they find themselves in a situation where backup is needed immediately.
As the officer holds the suspect on the ground, he is forced to explain his actions to several of the adults who have gathered to watch and film the spectacle rather than helping the officer out.
The suspect becomes increasingly agitated and can be heard saying that he will “smoke” the officer.
As the officer continues to hold the suspect down with a ‘shoulder pin’, he explains why he is being detained after the officer saw what he believed was a knifepoint robbery where the victims were also teenagers.
During the incident, the individual filming can also be heard asking the officer for his I.D. as he continues to detain the suspect who the officer believed may be in possession of a knife.
The video ends before backup arrives on the scene.
A spokesperson for Bromley MPS tweeted:
“We’re aware of a video showing a male being detained in Masons Hill, Bromley earlier.
“An off duty officer bravely intervened after a robbery where a phone was stolen and threats of knives were used.
“He safely restrained the 14-year-old suspect until on duty officers arrived.”
Commander Karen Findlay tweeted:
“Bravery. Courage. Never off duty. ONLY focus in this is protecting the public, selfless re own safety to stop kids being robbed at knifepoint. that’s the ONLY message. Help your officers keep young people safe. Young man who assisted fantastic job”.
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1) well done and a thank you to the off duty Police Officer who restrained a suspect and thereby preventing further possible crime
2) well done to the school children who listened to what the off duty Police Officer said and carried out his instructions which included calling the Police via 999 and using a coded sentence to get assistance quickly, and to get the Officers warrant card and show the adults surrounding the scene the card to prove the man was a Police Officer doing as he has been trained to do
3) shame on all the adults who continue to refuse to assist and accuse the Police Officer of hurting the arrested person
4) a big shame on the Doctor who brought race into the issue (I have read the comments on Twitter including those not shown above) she should have known better, she stopped her car initially with good intentions but once the Police Officer had explained and the children who assisted the Police Officer showed her his warrant card the Dr should have returned to her car and left the scene instead of attempting to cause trouble by continuing to film and make unhelpful comments.
Well done that Police Officer
Thin Blue Line 😀