Home Secretary Sajid Javid defends police who push moped muggers off their bikes in ‘tactical contact’
The defence came as Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott raged that 'Police are not above the law' to to which Mr Javid countered with 'Criminals are not above the law'
THE HOME Secretary sped to the defence of police knocking over moped thugs yesterday – after Labour blasted the tactic.
Sajid Javid said the “risk assessed tactical contact” was “exactly what we need” after the explosion in moped muggings.
Taking to social media, he said: “Criminals are not above the law.”
Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott had condemned the practice – saying knocking people off bikes was “very dangerous” and “shouldn’t be legal for anyone”. She stormed: “Police are not above the law.”
The Police Federation blasted Ms Abbotty – saying her comments “were very unhelpful”.
And officers from Camden Police – one of the London boroughs with the highest rates of moped-enabled crime – said the tactic was “entirely within our lawful power … and our responsibility”.
An estimated 22,000 moped muggings have taken place in the last year.
The Met released a string of videos at the weekend showing specially trained drivers ramming thugs off their mopeds at the end of high speed chases – sending them sprawling over car bonnets.
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At the time the Met said the tactic reduced the need for pursuits.
Scotland Yard’s so-called ‘Scorpion’ pursuit teams have hit mopeds or scooters 63 times so far this year.
John Apter, National Chair of the Police Federation yesterday insisted: “My colleagues are doing the best they can to prevent robberies, violent attacks and muggings.”
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