Sledging Policemen

Saw the following story on line today....




Police rapped after shield sledge stunt

A passer-by filmed the moment Thames Valley Police officers arrived at the slope in Berkeley Road, Boars Hill, Oxford, in a riot van.

One is then seen clambering on to the shield, and is advised by a colleague: "You've got to hold on to the straps." Another officer appears to be filming the incident on his mobile phone as the policeman is pushed down the slope, to a shout of: "Whatever happens, keep smiling!"

He then travels down the hill towards a ditch, to the obvious amusement of his three colleagues watching.

Superintendent Andrew Murray, Oxford City commander with Thames Valley Police, said: "The snow has a habit of bringing out the child in all of us.

"I have spoken to the officers concerned and reminded them in no uncertain terms that tobogganing on duty, on police equipment and at taxpayers' expense is a very bad idea should they wish to progress under my command."

Rick Latham, who filmed the 41-second clip before posting it on YouTube website, said he initially thought police were going to tell him off when they caught him attempting to slide down the slope in a kayak.

He said: "We thought they were going to give us a hard time. Then they asked how slippy the snow was, and one of them grabbed the shield, then another one went down on it as well. I asked if I could film it and they said that was fine. They said something like: 'We're only human'."


Isn't Superintendent Murray a spoilsport? Fair play to the boys in blue showing their human side. Incidentally it's now a criminal offence to take a photograph of a policeman so Rick Latham might be expecting a knock on the door over the next few days!