London Wildlife Protection said their member, who was feeding the birds in Wealdstone Square, in Harrow, London, was arrested by 11 Metropolitan Police officers
A woman was handcuffed by police and hit with a £100 fixed penalty notice in a “deeply troubling incident” after feeding the pigeons in a small park.
An animal welfare group, London Wildlife Protection, has condemned officers with the London Metropolitan Police, 11 of whom they said arrested one of their members for “feeding and caring for pigeons”. The woman, who has not been identified, was feeding the birds in Wealdstone Square, Harrow on January 7.
She was seen in a video posted by the animal rights group being marched away by several Met police officers, who had arrested her, the force said, for “breaching Section 50 of the Police Reform Act”.
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Posting on social media, London Wildlife Protection said it was “concerning” that their volunteer was being “treated unfairly”, branding the police move “unjust and disgraceful”. The group said: “This shocking video reveals a deeply troubling incident in which eleven police officers arrested one of our volunteers in Harrow, simply for feeding and caring for pigeons.
“It’s definitely concerning when someone is treated unfairly, especially for something as peaceful as helping pigeons. This unjust and disgraceful action will be met with formal complaints and further legal actions.”
Speaking to Harrow Online, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said the woman wasn’t arrested for feeding the pigeons, but for refusing to provide her details to local officials trying to issue her with a fixed penalty notice. They added that she was later “de-arrested and dealt with by council officers”.
The spokesperson said: “At around 14:30hrs on Wednesday, 7 January officers were approached by local council enforcement officers dealing with an anti-social behaviour incident on Wealdstone High Street, Harrow.”
“A woman, in her 40s, was repeatedly asked to provide her name and address so that a fixed penalty notice could be issued. After speaking with officers for around 20 minutes, she repeatedly refused to provide her personal details. She was arrested on suspicion of breaching Section 50 of the Police Reform Act, which requires people to provide their name and address when requested to do so by the police.
“Her details were later obtained, and she was de-arrested and dealt with by council officers.” In its own statement, Harrow Council said the woman breached a Public Spaces Protection Order banning feeding birds in the area.
A spokesperson said: “There was a breach of the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) relating to bird feeding. The individual refused to provide their details, which is an offence, and also refused to stop feeding pigeons when asked to do so. Our PSPO is in place to help keep our streets clean and safe for everyone and anyone found breaching these faces £100 fixed penalty notice.”
