Couple arrested ‘for attacking three police officers’ after they were stopped for not wearing masks
THREE police officers wrestle mask-less couple to the ground and arrest them after stopping them for not wearing face coverings in Birmingham shopping centre
- Dramatic footage emerges of a man being wrestled to the ground by police
- Wearing a face covering is compulsory by law in such shopping centres
- The man, 20, and woman, 19, have since been released under investigation
A couple accused of attacking three officers in a brawl over masks in Birmingham‘s Bullring shopping centre have been arrested.
Dramatic footage of a man being wrestled to the ground by police emerged on social media after the confrontation earlier this week.
Shouting can be heard as several officers grab the man and try to pull him to the floor, as mobile phones and walkie talkies go flying in the scuffle.
Another clip shows a crowd of officers surrounding the suspect, who appears to be being pinned to the ground.
Dramatic footage of a man being wrestled to the ground by police, pictured left and right, emerged on social media after the confrontation earlier this week
Shouting can be heard as several officers grab the man and try to pull him to the floor, pictured left and right, as mobile phones and walkie talkies go flying in the scuffle
Another clip, pictured left and right, shows a crowd of officers surrounding the suspect, who appears to be being pinned to the ground
Police said a 20-year-old man and 19-year-old woman were held after being stopped and spoken to by officers for not wearing a face covering around the complex.
Scenes then turned violent and the pair were arrested on suspicion of assault on Tuesday afternoon, before being released under investigation.
No officers were seriously injured during the incident.
The Bullring, which now only has essential shops, click-and-collect and takeaway services open after the second city entered Tier 4 today, says clearly on its website that ‘face coverings are compulsory throughout the centre, including in all our stores’.
Furthermore, Government guidance states that they must be worn in all shopping centres by law, and that police can take measures if members of the public do not comply without a valid exemption.
A West Midlands Police spokesman said: ‘Two people have been arrested after three officers were assaulted in the Bullring.
‘Officers had been trying to speak to a man and a woman who weren’t wearing masks.
‘One officer was punched in the face, another elbowed in the face, and a third was repeatedly shoved.
‘A 20-year-old man and 19 year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of assaulting an officer.
‘They have been released under investigation.
‘Fortunately, none of the officers were seriously injured in the incident, which happened on Tuesday afternoon.’
A spokesperson for Bullring and Grand Central, said: ‘Safety is our number one priority. In line with Government regulations we encourage all our customers to wear a facemask in the centre.
Following a customer incident on the 29th December police attended the centre. This is now a matter for the authorities and we are helping them with their enquiries.’
