Dalston Junction bus stop Pic: Au Morandarte
Eight police officers were injured after a violent disturbance broke out on Kingsland High Street last Friday evening following the arrest the 15-year-old girl suspected of evading a bus fare.
Two of the police officers were taken to the hospital but have since been discharged. The others sustained facial injuries including cuts and bruises.
Two teenagers, Izraa McIntosh, 18, of Shrubland Road and a 16-year-old girl, were arrested on charges of police assault. Both were bailed to appear in court at a later date.
The 15-year-old girl suspected of evading the bus fare is also suspected of police assault and has been bailed to return to Stoke Newington police station.
The disturbance began when, after her arrest, a friend of the girl approached a group of men saying that she felt the police were being “heavy-handed” and a row then broke out between the police and civilians.
One of the witnesses was a friend of the family of the girl and uploaded a video of the scene with the following caption: “My friend’s daughter mishandled by police in Dalston yesterday for not having her oyster! I get the police have to do their jobs but not like this FFS!!”
My frens daughter mishandled by police in Dalston yesterday for not having her oyster!!…I get the police have to do their jobs but not like this FFS!! pic.twitter.com/wtSuiLrTzk
— Dee Beccs (@DeeDeeBeccs) December 2, 2017
In the video, someone from the surrounding crowd can be heard saying “Don’t kick her.”
The Metropolitan Police Federation (MPF) tweeted: “Our members should not have to endure such violence… #ProtectTheProtectors.”
Our members should not have to endure such violence https://t.co/QaJcMXXpPZ #ProtectTheProtectors
— Met Police Fed (@MPFed) December 4, 2017
British activist Lee Jasper retweeted a news report on the incident with the following caption: “A @metpoliceuk officer assaults a 16yr old black girl child in Dalston Junction on camera, almost causing a riot. And all over an Oyster card. What’s the Mayor @SadiqKhan doing to tackle #policebrutality and #racism? Nothing.”
A @metpoliceuk officer assaults a 16yr old black girl child in Dalston Junction on camera, almost causing a riot. And all over an Oyster card. What’s the Mayor @SadiqKhan doing to tackle #policebrutality and #racism ? Nothing 😡 https://t.co/yU90Fy3Prq
— Mr Lee Jasper (@LeeJasper) December 3, 2017
@cmijola
Well a criminal gets treated like a criminal.
Should check before boarding that you have an Oyster card / method of payment. If she’s 16 she should get a criminal prosecution. Very simple .