Harrow Council has referred two former enforcement officers to the Metropolitan Police after footage appeared to show them threatening a member of the public while on duty. The men, who worked for contractor Kingdom Local Authority Support, were dismissed after a video emerged showing them apparently switching off body-worn cameras before making a series of aggressive remarks during a confrontation in the street.
Incident Details
The incident was recorded on 18 May and attracted widespread attention after the footage was viewed millions of times online over the weekend. According to the council, it became aware of the complaint on 28 May and passed details to Kingdom the following day. The two individuals were subsequently removed from their roles on 30 May.
The Metropolitan Police has now confirmed it was contacted by the London Borough of Harrow regarding the footage. A force spokesperson said: "Police were contacted by the London Borough of Harrow on Monday, 15 June after a video surfaced online regarding the conduct of two contracted enforcement officers. We are currently assessing the information provided to us and are working to contact the person involved. Anyone with information that could help police should call 101 quoting CAD 6640/15Jun."
Threats and Allegations
The circumstances that led to the confrontation remain unclear. During the encounter, one of the officers is heard making a series of threats, including saying he would "knock you the f*** out" and "rip your teeth out" when no longer wearing his uniform. The footage also appears to show one officer disabling a colleague's body-worn camera before being told it had been switched off.
The man filming the exchange, apparently using a covert recording device concealed in his glasses, repeatedly questioned the officers about their actions. At several points, the pair accused him of interfering with their income and challenged him to follow them away from the public street. One officer can be heard saying: "You act like you're trying to mess with our money." He later adds: "Come to the alleyway right now, we're gonna show you what time it is."
The video also appears to show one of the officers claiming he had links to police officers, telling the man: "If I call a police officer for you, he'll f*** you up, you know, 'cause we work with them." As the argument continued, one of the men said: "We've got people to feed", while the other allegedly threatened further violence and damage to the man's property.
Reactions and Responses
The footage prompted criticism from local residents and politicians. Councillor Rashmi Kalu said the incident reflected concerns she had previously heard about enforcement activity in the borough. She stated: "This is not the first time the council’s enforcement has faced criticism over its conduct. This incident appears to reinforce concerns that have been raised repeatedly with me about the culture and approach of enforcement on our streets. Over recent months, I have also been contacted by a number of residents regarding their experiences with Kingdom enforcement officers. While the vast majority of council staff and contractors carry out their duties professionally, these reports raise concerns that I believe must be properly investigated."
A council spokesperson said: "We are aware of a video circulating in relation to the conduct of two enforcement officers. Swift action was taken as soon as the incident and complaint were raised to us and Kingdom in May, and the individuals involved no longer work for Kingdom. We take any instance of officers deliberately turning off body-worn cameras extremely seriously. Threats of violence towards members of the public are wholly unacceptable and will not be tolerated."
A spokesperson for Kingdom Services Group added: "We are aware of the video circulating in relation to the serious conduct of two Kingdom Local Authority Support enforcement officers. As soon as the incident and subsequent complaint were brought to our attention in May, swift action was taken. The individuals concerned no longer work for Kingdom Local Authority Support. We take any instance of officers deliberately disabling body-worn cameras extremely seriously, as these devices are an important safeguard for both the public and our staff. Equally, any threats of violence towards members of the public are wholly unacceptable and will not be tolerated."
