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These are images of the turbulent scenes in a Wirral housing estate yesterday when police tried to arrest two teenagers after they stole a motorcycle from a delivery driver.
Chaos erupted in Leasowe on Saturday when officers were called in to try to catch the suspects following a chase that involved the force’s helicopter.
But when the arrest took place, a large crowd of residents gathered and surrounded the scene, yelling angrily and gesturing toward the police.
One of the suspects, a red-haired teenager, was pinned to the ground by an officer, sparking hostility from bystanders, some of whom lashed out at the officers.
In response, police were seen telling people to “back off”, sometimes pushing invading members of the public, and on a couple of occasions using pepper spray to try to disperse the crowd.
Video footage, released here, shows a snapshot of the problem as the suspect was struggling on the ground while an attempt was made to immobilize him.
(Image: UGC)
At one point, the officer holding the man appears to be run over by another man who aims a kick at him, at which point he fires pepper spray in his direction.
Tensions escalate even more when a woman, in a dressing gown, goes out into the street and angrily protests with the police.
An officer responds by shoving her, angering the crowd and residents hurling insults at the police.
She was also attacked with the PAVA spray that forces her to retreat.
Later in the images, the same woman wearing a gown appears to be held down by officers on the sidewalk as they immobilize her.
Many of the viewers have mobile phones recording what is happening, some of them laugh at the scenes.
(Image: UGC)
The incident was sparked by reports to a fast food delivery driver that his motorcycle was stolen while picking up an order around 1.40pm on Saturday.
Two men reportedly stopped on a different bike, and one jumped to grab the delivery driver’s vehicle.
The victim was said to be “extremely distraught” over the robbery.
Merseyside police rushed a National Police Air Service helicopter in an attempt to track down the stolen bicycle, prompting the pursuit of two suspects.
One threw a bicycle during the chase and then officers tracked down the suspects who were riding together until the bicycle they were riding broke down on Mackenzie Road in Leasowe around 3.25 p.m.
In response to the film, Chief Inspector Keith McLachlan said: “When the two officers restrained the two men, they quickly found themselves surrounded by a large group of people who threatened and mistreated them.
“As a result, a call for assistance was sent and other officers attended.
“The crowd continued to be aggressive towards officers and at one point officers had to resort to using the PAVA spray.
“Two men, ages 18 and 19, from Leasowe were arrested and have been taken to a police station where they will be interviewed by detectives.”
He added: “We will review the body camera footage and helicopter footage from the incident to see if other people within the crowd surrounding the officers committed further crimes.
“These officers were doing everything they could after a crime victim called the police for help, after her motorcycle was stolen.
“The victim is a fast food delivery driver and depends on his motorcycle for a living.
“I don’t know if the members of the crowd that surrounded the officers were aware of this, but I hope they realize that the police are there to support crime victims and arrest those responsible for the crime and it should not be prevented when trying to do his job. “
The scenes come just days after another video showed disorder at this year’s so-called Night of Mischief with young people cycling on the same Leasowe estate and firing fireworks in all directions.
Yobs launched fireworks directly at the houses and a gang of about 15 people, who appeared to have the hood up, surrounded a car that was trying to park on the sidewalk in front of one of the houses.
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