A woman was arrested, handcuffed, and placed in a police van on a busy London high street after an incident involving feeding pigeons, in a scene described by onlookers as "ridiculous."
Dramatic Arrest Caught on Camera
The incident occurred on Wednesday 7 January at around 2.30pm on Wealdstone High Street in Harrow, London. Video footage shared on social media shows the woman, who is in her 40s, being detained by a group of at least six Metropolitan Police officers and council enforcement workers.
In the video, the woman appears visibly distressed as officers apply handcuffs. Her pockets are subsequently searched before she is escorted by two officers to a waiting police van. A passerby filming the event can be heard repeatedly expressing outrage, with others questioning the police response. One bystander is heard stating, "this is ridiculous."
Breach of Order and Refusal to Provide Details
According to authorities, the woman was initially approached for breaching a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) relating to bird feeding. Harrow Council confirmed the PSPO is designed to keep streets clean and safe, and a breach carries a fixed penalty notice of £100.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police stated that officers were assisting council enforcement workers with an anti-social behaviour incident. The woman was repeatedly asked to provide her name and address for approximately 20 minutes so the fine could be issued.
"She repeatedly refused to provide her personal details," said the police spokesperson. This refusal led to her arrest on suspicion of breaching Section 50 of the Police Reform Act, which requires a person to give their name and address when lawfully requested by police.
De-arrest and Council Fine Issued
After her arrest, the woman's details were eventually obtained. She was then de-arrested and the matter was handed back to council officers. A Harrow Council spokesperson said the individual had refused to stop feeding the pigeons when asked and then refused to provide details, which is an offence.
The council confirmed the woman was issued with the £100 fixed penalty notice for the PSPO breach. Failure to pay the fine can result in prosecution.
The case has sparked debate over the proportionality of police response to minor bylaw infractions, contrasting the use of significant resources against the perceived nature of the offence.
