The Metropolitan Police have said that one of its officers told a young black man stopped while cycling last week that he had not got “lights displayed” and not that he did not have a “licence plate” on his bicycle.
Many social media users who watched footage of the incident posted to social media – and, we have to admit, those of us at road.cc – misheard the officer’s words as the latter.
While both seem unlikely terms to use, once pointed out it does sound much more like she said the phrase “lights displayed,” which is the less unlikely of the two to use, we suppose.
In a statement, the force also said that no further action would be taken in relation to a complaint it had received about the incident, which happened at around 2020 hours last Tuesday 30 June on Upney Road in Barking.
Police said that officers approached the man, who was riding his bike on the pavement, “and stopped him to discuss the manner of his cycling.
“He was asked where he was going and he said he was going home.
“The man was not searched, was not arrested and after a short time he was allowed on his way.”
The cyclist filmed part of the exchange with officers, in which a female officer said he had been stopped for “anti-social behaviour.”
He asked her, “ Does this look like anti-social behaviour to you?” and was told, “Well, the way you’re cycling around, at the moment you’re in and out of the road, on the pavement, on the road, not wearing a [mumbled], not wearing a helmet, not got your lights displayed, not got your hi-viz … ”
“So everyone who’s not wearing a helmet, it’s anti-social behaviour when riding a bike?” the cyclist replied.
In its statement issued today, the Met said: “Police are aware of a video circulating on social media showing an officer providing advice to the man.
“Contrary to some reports, we do not believe the officer in the video referenced a licence plate, but that she said the bike was being ridden without ‘lights displayed’.
“A public complaint was recorded due to comments made on social media and assessed by the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards.
“This assessment concluded that the officers were perfectly justified in using their powers under the Road Traffic Act to stop the male due to the manner of his cycling, which was both unsafe and anti-social towards other road users.
“The officers were professional, and gave sound advice regarding safe cycling – the male was not wearing a helmet, was dressed all in black, and was not displaying lights in the dusk.
No further action has been taken,” police added.
If that were me I forgo that silly very narrow cycle lane and ride the traffic lane.
A cyclist made UK dash cams this week....
Struggling to find any sympathy for people who live in RBKC and drive/own Range Rovers.
And possibly some inclement weather as a side order!
If you'll excuse a bit of road.cc in-joke - you're LICENCED....
Plenty of Scotts and BMCs available under £3.000. Then there's Orbea, Specialized - the list goes on.
I wonder what they'd say if they saw my one-time UCI team development squad bike now (eight years later), not only maxxed out on spacers but with a...
Then I apologise for any hurt, distress or upset feelings I might have caused Milton Keynes or its residents....
yeah...we all go swimming with an ex alone, totally normal and plutonic
Is it worth highlighting the builders truck and mpv car both pass "in the lane" without raising concern, so the 1.5metre isnt the exact issue here,...