A woman in Harrow, London, was arrested and handcuffed for feeding pigeons after refusing to provide her details to police
Woman Arrested for Feeding Pigeons in Harrow
A woman feeding pigeons in the street was arrested in an incident caught on camera. The event took place in Harrow, London, on Wednesday.
Video shared on social media shows the woman, who is in her 40s, being detained by at least six police officers and council enforcement workers. The arrest occurred around 2:30 PM on the High Street in Wealdstone. In the footage, the woman appears distressed as she is handcuffed and searched. She is then escorted by two officers to the back of a police van.
A man filming the incident expressed his outrage, while other passersby questioned the situation. One person remarked, “this is ridiculous.”
Details of the Incident
The local council stated that the woman was in breach of the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) related to bird feeding. She received a £100 fine for this violation. Those who breach the PSPO must pay the fixed penalty notice or may face prosecution.
Police reported that the woman was arrested after she “repeatedly refused to provide her personal details” when asked by officers, which is an offense. Once her details were obtained, she was de-arrested, and the matter was handed over to council officers.
Official Statements
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: “At around 2:30 PM 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.”
A Harrow Council spokesperson added: “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 a £100 fixed penalty notice.”
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Harrow, London |
| Time of Incident | 2:30 PM |
| Age of Woman | In her 40s |
| Number of Officers | At least six |
| Fine Amount | £100 |
