In a controversial incident, a woman was handcuffed by police and issued a £100 fixed penalty notice for feeding pigeons in a small park.
London Wildlife Protection, an animal welfare organization, criticized the actions of the London Metropolitan Police, stating that 11 officers arrested one of their members for feeding and caring for pigeons in Wealdstone Square, Harrow on January 7. The woman was filmed being escorted away by multiple officers, who cited a violation of Section 50 of the Police Reform Act as the reason for her arrest.
The incident sparked outrage on social media, with London Wildlife Protection expressing concern over the treatment of their volunteer and denouncing the police’s actions as unfair and unjust. They vowed to file formal complaints and pursue legal action in response to what they deemed a disgraceful move.
Contrary to initial reports, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police clarified that the woman was not arrested for feeding pigeons but for refusing to provide her details to officers attempting to issue a fixed penalty notice. After a brief interaction with police, where she repeatedly declined to disclose her information, she was taken into custody under suspicion of breaching the Police Reform Act. Eventually, her details were obtained, and she was released to be handled by council authorities.
Harrow Council confirmed that the woman had violated a Public Spaces Protection Order prohibiting bird feeding in the vicinity. The individual’s refusal to comply with the order and provide personal information resulted in a £100 fixed penalty notice, as outlined by the council’s regulations aimed at maintaining cleanliness and safety in public areas.