A woman in her 40s was handcuffed and issued with a £100 fixed penalty notice in a controversial incident involving eleven Metropolitan Police officers in a London park. The event, which occurred on Wednesday, 7 January, has been condemned by the animal welfare group London Wildlife Protection as "deeply troubling."
What Happened in Wealdstone Square?
The incident took place at around 14:30hrs in Wealdstone Square, Harrow. According to the activist group, their volunteer was simply "feeding and caring for pigeons" when she was approached. A video shared by the group shows the woman being led away by multiple police officers.
However, the Metropolitan Police provided a different account. A spokesperson stated that officers were assisting Harrow Council enforcement officers with an anti-social behaviour incident. The woman was reportedly asked to stop feeding the birds, which breaches a local Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), and to provide her name and address so a fixed penalty notice could be issued.
The Arrest and Aftermath
The police stated that after speaking with officers for approximately 20 minutes, the woman "repeatedly refused" to give her personal details. She was subsequently arrested on suspicion of breaching Section 50 of the Police Reform Act, which requires individuals to provide their name and address when lawfully requested by police.
Once her details were later obtained, she was de-arrested and handed over to council officers to receive the £100 fine. Harrow Council confirmed the PSPO, which bans feeding birds in the area, was breached, stating the order helps "keep our streets clean and safe for everyone."
Formal Complaints and Public Reaction
London Wildlife Protection has strongly criticised the police response, branding it "unjust and disgraceful." The group announced plans to submit formal complaints and pursue further legal action, arguing their volunteer was "treated unfairly" for a peaceful act.
This clash highlights the tension between local authority regulations aimed at maintaining public spaces and the activities of wildlife welfare volunteers. The significant police presence at the scene has raised questions about the proportionality of the response to the alleged offence.
