Cyclist assaulted on Chelsea Embankment

So I was riding along Chelsea Embankment on Friday evening in the busy traffic, don’t usually do this as south side is much quieter, traffic in front of me stops. There's nowhere really to go except into oncoming or up onto the footpath so I stop behind a red Ford Transit flatbed/pickup. Another cyclist goes down the small inside gap beside the transit and has words with the occupants. They have words back.

At this point I’m thinking this other cyclist is a bit of a tool for going down a small gap and mouthing off to three labourer type looking blokes. I found out later that the transit’s wing mirror had clipped the cyclist’s elbow, reason enough for a few words I reckon. Just as I’m about to say cool it mate you were in the wrong, the punches start. The passenger on the inside reaches out and smacks the cyclist a couple of times in the head. Luckily he was wearing a (skater type) helmet. Then comes the spit from inside the cab, at least two or three times. There are a few more words and then the puncher reaches way out of the cab to grab the cyclist trying to pull him back and have another go at him. By this time I've dropped my bike on the pavement and closed the gap to the altercation. I grab the puncher by the scruff of the neck and pull him off the cyclist, almost pulling him out of the cab.

The puncher looks as though he's going to get out of the cab and have a go at me, as I'm saying to him that I've just seen him repeatedly punch the cyclist now sprawled on the ground. I guess he thinks the better of attempting another unprovoked assault. Also the traffic in front of the transit has cleared and the driver takes the opportunity to get going.

I and another cyclist who's just ridden up get the license plate (MP06 XPT), so I call the police and report what's happened. Luckily the other cyclist is OK if a little shaken. After the phone call we exchange details for future witness statements etc and I ride off west down the embankment.

A little while after Albert Bridge I see a sight that brings a big smile to my face. The cops have caught up with the transit and are talking to the driver out on the pavement. I ride up and tell the cops that I witnessed the assault and that I called the police. The driver at this point starts saying that I've punched his mate in the back of the head and that he has two witnesses. What a lying c-unit I'm thinking.

One of the cops takes my details and asks me to wait around whilst they talk to the occupants of the transit and their colleagues talk to the assaulted cyclist. 10-15 minutes go by and eventually the cops let the scumbags go and the cop who I'd talked to comes and talks to me.

No one is getting nicked and it's all over apparently. What a fuckin surprise. Obvious assault with witnesses and no action. Copper says to me they complained that I'd assaulted the passenger who was defending himself from the aggressive cyclist. Like bitch, please!

Cop also says that if it had gone any further they'd have had to nick me as part of the investigation. The other cyclist later tells me that the cops said that if it went any further they'd have had to nick him also as part of the investigation.

As I'm getting on my bike to leave the cop says that punching someone in the back of the head in that situation might or might not have been reasonable force (50/50) and that they were about 50/50 as to whether I'd actually punched him or just pulled him off. Talk about a cop out! The whole thing left me questioning whether it was better to get involved (my natural instinct) or should I have taken out my phone and filmed the assault to use as evidence later. Still not sure.

OK, I feel better for have got that rant over with. Apologies for the length if anyone actually made it to the end of this post.

Cop says that if it had gone any further they'd have had to nick me as part of the investigation.
Niiiiice! Police work at its finest. "Generate a crime report for me to have file paperwork and I'll severely inconvenience you."

You were right to get involved.
These people are complete cunts.

However the police clearly can't be bothered with this case.
It's up to you if you want to take it further.
You could complain etc... but I guess it will depend on how much you can be bothered yourself.
Is there another witness that wasn't involved?
Otherwise it's going to be your word against those cunts.

Shower of bastards.

Arrrrrrrgh!
I would have said nick me. This cannot continue. assault a cyclist get off and the police protect you and threaten arrest of those proctecting the victim.
Fucking useless cunts!
Want to go out and assault the police's children now!

I'd actually punched him or just pulled him off

I am pretty sure you can get arrested for the second, by the river in rush hour is pretty public.

sadly i am not surprised by this at all. but there is no point raising the anger levels.

haha Greasy you funny cunt ...im off to get something to clean up my tea with now

Good work for getting involved.
Typical shower of shite copper response though. Lazy plums.
Might be worth pushing it as far as you can and making a complaint if you can be bothered and you have the extra witness.
Would make them try harder next time.

My experience with the IPCC wasn't great, but I know others have had success.

Maybe worth contacting them, as you've just had the fob off, naughty lazy policemen.... what a surprise. There will be a lawyer type on here that can confirm this, but I suspect there is some law where the passengers in the offending vehicle would not be admissible witnesses, as they would be biased to protect each other, whereas you and the original victim are strangers and have no cause to lie for each other....

Er maybe you wanna check out the couriers V taxi driver on shoreditch high st. posted by Oliver.

They'll only suggest it's a case of cyclists ganging up to help one another- not that I'm suggesting to let it go.

Mioght also be worth speaking to the Evening Standard. They tend to run a few stories about cyclists being assaulted. Would be interesting to hear a police response...

Mioght also be worth speaking to the Evening Standard. They tend to run a few stories encouraging the assault of cyclists [STRIKE]being assaulted.[/STRIKE] Would be interesting to hear a police response...

Yep they sure do.
None of this story surprises me but stepping in like that was 100% the right thing to do.
What's better a cyclist with fewer injuries and no video or a cyclist with more injuries and a video?

Er maybe you wanna check out the couriers V taxi driver on shoreditch high st. posted by Oliver.

They'll only suggest it's a case of cyclists ganging up to help one another- not that I'm suggesting to let it go.

Is this not the other way round? IIRC the couriers were workmates as it seems are the van occupants. The 3 cyclists have no connection. On the balance of probability I know which way I'd vote.

Also well done for getting involved to the OP!

No one is getting nicked and it's all over apparently. What a fuckin surprise. Obvious assault with witnesses and no action. Copper says to me they complained that I'd assaulted the passenger who was defending himself from the aggressive cyclist. Like bitch, please!

Cop also says that if it had gone any further they'd have had to nick me as part of the investigation. The other cyclist later tells me that the cops said that if it went any further they'd have had to nick him also as part of the investigation.

This is, for the record, horseshit. They're under no obligation whatever to nick anyone, as their actions make very clear. Collar numbers, formal complaint. I have fairly limited faith in the complaints mechanisms, but the one response that absolutely guarantees that this nonsense will continue is not to give them a chance to work.

The outcome of this is no great surprise. The plod are becoming increasingly less feasible as time marches on. A severe lack of direction marred the policing of the riots earlier this year and as a result of bureaucracy we appear to have a selection of individuals who're clueless as to what to do in any given situation. Instead of moaning at cyclists pootling along, why not get out and stop the car drivers who insist on using their telephones.

I had an altercation with a bloke who later informed me he was a police officer after I'd (not) actually taken a photo of him (I actually took my phone out of my pocket but my cold fingers couldn't activate the touch screen).

I continued on my merry way and he pulled up in front of me to ask why I had taken a picture of him. I explained that by using the telephone he was breaking the law. He told me he was a police officer, and showed me his warrant card before asking me to delete the picture. He explained that he was answering a call from work. I explained that not only did I have a picture of him speaking on the phone but I had his registration number too. At this point he became quite flustered and asked me who I was. I explained that I didn't have to tell him anything unless he was arresting me for an offense.

He was dressed in plain clothes and not driving a standard pig mobile - therefore he was off-duty.

He then took another "urgent call" and fucked off Leaving a whiff of pork product in his trail.

These people are supposed to be overseeing society and they're all suspects themselves.

Don't get me started on the fake bacon...

Get out your D-Lock and clock them one. reasonable force and all that...

Mioght also be worth speaking to the Evening Standard. They tend to run a few stories about cyclists being assaulted. Would be interesting to hear a police response...

They ran a good piece on my mate Jared who got assaulted by a cabbie

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23884814-cyclist-is-cleared-of-assault-thanks-to-standard-readers.do

The worst thing was the sherbert assulted him, then shirt and tied to the po po, sweeny bought the pony and took the flounder and dabs side, rozzers then banged him up for nickle and dime charging him for a betty, guvner had to march the aald bailey claim he is uncle fred, lucky they adam and eve'd him

fuckers!

The outcome of this is no great .... telephones... I had an altercation... taken a photo of him ... merry way and he pulled up ... standard pig mobile - therefore he was off-duty. .... Leaving a whiff of pork product in his trail. .....
Don't get me started on the fake bacon...

leave tasty pork products out of this un-savory debate.. alright!

^Tell that to the middle east.

Everything could be solved with bacon sandwiches and they should be served at ALL middle eastern peace treaties from now on.

I am a fucking genius.

I continued on my merry way and he pulled up in front of me to ask why I had taken a picture of him. I explained that by using the telephone he was breaking the law. He told me he was a police officer, and showed me his warrant card before asking me to delete the picture. He explained that he was answering a call from work. I explained that not only did I have a picture of him speaking on the phone but I had his registration number too. At this point he became quite flustered and asked me who I was. I explained that I didn't have to tell him anything unless he was arresting me for an offense.

Good work! I think I'm going to start doing this. It drives me insane the number of drivers who still think its acceptable to make a quick call whilst driving. I saw one such tool in a mini a few weeks and ago driving along texting going really slowly as he was concentrating on his phone. So I took the liberty of crossing the road in front of him and I was so tempted to stand in front of his idling car so when he looked up he would have shit himself. Think he was a foxtons.

I am shocked how many people do that, do they not realise it's 3 points on your licence

I drive round london in a van all day and never answer while driving, it's difficult enough trying to concentrate as it is with all the dribblers on the road, to drive one handed while trying to think and talk at the same time is just too much

^^Doesn't count. They're notorious cunts. I don't mean to insult vegetation, but they all have the brains of a potato's. They expect people to give them short shrift and are generally well prepared with a selection of what they deem to be suitable insults, generally along the lines of "Why don't you own a car?" etc. Most the Fuckstons agents are one level above fly shit in my opinion.

I am shocked how many people do that, do they not realise it's 3 points on your licence

I drive round london in a van all day and never answer while driving, it's difficult enough trying to concentrate as it is with all the dribblers on the road, to drive one handed while trying to think and talk at the same time is just too much

Justified that we simply cannot multi-task.

I saw someone on the phone and smoking whilst taking their kids to school on my commute this morning. I was so disgusted, I wrote a letter to my M.P. The first time I have ever been moved to take action, asking why it is legal to smoke with children in the car. You may as well just hand them a pack of cigarettes you in-bred cunts

Tsk tsk - that's Barnet for you.