Local authority enforcement officers in London have been fired after a viral video showed them threatening to 'knock out' a member of the public while not wearing their uniforms. The incident occurred in Harrow, northwest London, where two workers were recorded intimidating a citizen.
Video Evidence
In the footage, one enforcement officer ensures their body-worn cameras are switched off. His colleague asks, 'Is it off?' and receives confirmation, according to the Daily Mail. The officers then threaten to 'rip his teeth out.' The dispute reportedly involved money, but the victim's identity remains unknown.
Threats Made
An employee in a red hood says to the cameraman: 'Come to the alleyway right now, we're going to show you what time it is. We're going to make sure you can't work no more and earn no money because you're trying to butt in with our money.' He adds, 'I swear, when I'm not in uniform, I'm going to knock you the f*** out and rip your teeth out.' Another worker in a black hoodie says, 'We've got people to feed.' The red-hooded officer also threatens to call police, claiming they work together.
Council Response
Harrow Council dismissed the two staff members, stating they take incidents of turning off body-worn cameras 'very seriously.' The workers were employed by Kingdom Services Group, an agency contracted by the council. A council spokesperson said: 'Swift action was taken as soon as the incident and complaint were raised to us and Kingdom in May, and the individuals involved no longer work for Kingdom. Threats of violence towards members of the public are wholly unacceptable and will not be tolerated.'
Agency Statement
A Kingdom Services Group spokesperson added: 'As soon as the incident and subsequent complaint were brought to our attention in May, swift action was taken. The individuals concerned no longer work for Kingdom Local Authority Support. We take any instance of officers deliberately disabling body-worn cameras extremely seriously, as these devices are an important safeguard for both the public and our staff.'
