Police PCSO refuses to attend assault just 200 yards away
‘But then I’ll have to deal with it’: Astonishing moment Sussex Police PCSO REFUSES to attend shoplifting and assault at Co-op just 200 yards away despite pleas from member of the public
- Sussex Police are investigating an incident at the Co-op in Lancing
This is the moment a Sussex Police PCSO refused to attend an alleged assault just seconds away – telling a member of the public who approached him for help ‘but then I’ll have to deal with it’.
A local resident approached an officer parked up on a street in Lancing to report an alleged incident at a nearby Co-op store just 200-300 yards away.
He claimed there had been a fight sparked by people trying to stop shoplifters – with a member of the public attacked – and asked the police officer to get to the scene.
But the officer told him he was not part of a response unit and appeared to refuse to deal with the incident.
The exchange on Thursday was recorded on a dashcam and quickly shared on TikTok. Police say they are investigating the actions of their colleague.
‘I’m not a response unit unfortunately,’ a police officer is heard saying in footage shared online
Good Morning Britain, who reported on the incident, said it took them 26 seconds to make the journey the police officer would have had to make
The officer is heard telling a member of the public asking for help ‘then I’ll have to deal with it’
‘You need to get around to the Co-op. Honestly, there’s just been a fight around there because people are trying to stop the shoplifters that you’re doing nothing about,’ the witness is heard telling the officer in the footage.
‘There’s a member of the public that’s just been assaulted by a 15-year-old girl who’s drunk, had a drink thrown in her face, got punched.
‘People have called the police, we’ve come round here and you’re sitting here -.’
But the police officer told him: ‘I’m not a response unit unfortunately.’
The member of the public said: ‘I know you’re not, but the sight of the car will make them scatter. ‘
The police officer then replied: ‘Yeah but then I’ll have to deal with it.’
‘Are you afraid to deal with it then,’ the man asks the officer, who tells him: ‘That’s not the point.’
But the member of the public is far from impressed and tells him: ‘It kind of is the point, that’s the perception.’
The officer then says: ‘It’s why I’m here and not round there.’
Sussex Police are investigating a report of shoplifting and an alleged assault at the Co-op in Lancing on Thursday June 29
Good Morning Britain, who reported on the incident, said it took them 26 seconds to make the journey the police officer would have had to make.
They were told by Sussex Police an investigation was underway into a report of shoplifting and an alleged assault at the Co-op in Lancing on Thursday June 29.
‘The actions of the member of police staff involved in the video are under review,’ a statement said.
A spokesman from Sussex Police told MailOnline: ‘We are aware of video footage of a single-crewed Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) being approached by a member of the public to report an incident in Lancing.
‘The matter was reported to us and a police officer attended the incident as an emergency.
‘The PCSO also then attended the scene.
‘The investigation into a report of assault and shoplifting is subject of a live investigation, and the victim has been contacted by officers.’
West Sussex local policing Superintendent Nick Dias said: ‘Keeping the public safe and feeling safe is paramount and our officers and PCSOs work hard to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour, often in challenging circumstances. We closely with local retailers and partners to help prevent and respond to anti-social behaviour and assaults on shop workers.
‘We are sorry for the clumsy language used by the PCSO in this exchange and acknowledge the public’s concern.
‘A police unit was dispatched to the scene as a matter of priority. Our response to this incident is being reviewed.’
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