This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/london/7513416.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Mob attacks officers over litter | Mob attacks officers over litter |
| (18 minutes later) | |
| Two police officers are on sick leave after being attacked by a mob in south London after they asked a 15-year-old girl to pick up her litter. | Two police officers are on sick leave after being attacked by a mob in south London after they asked a 15-year-old girl to pick up her litter. |
| One officer was dragged to the ground and kicked while the other was bitten by a girl who jumped on his back. | One officer was dragged to the ground and kicked while the other was bitten by a girl who jumped on his back. |
| Up to 30 people took part in the attack, which happened in North End, Croydon, on Wednesday afternoon. | Up to 30 people took part in the attack, which happened in North End, Croydon, on Wednesday afternoon. |
| Trouble flared when the 15-year-old threw her food wrapper back on to the ground and became aggressive. | Trouble flared when the 15-year-old threw her food wrapper back on to the ground and became aggressive. |
| A girl who was arrested at the scene on suspicion of assault has been released on bail. | A girl who was arrested at the scene on suspicion of assault has been released on bail. |
| We had to call for urgent assistance because you are fearing for your life Metropolitan police officer | We had to call for urgent assistance because you are fearing for your life Metropolitan police officer |
| Two men, aged 34 and 38 and both from South Norwood, south London, have been arrested on suspicion of assault and violent disorder. | |
| Police said the girl initially picked up the fast food wrapper when asked by the patrolling officers, but immediately dropped it again sparking the confrontation. | Police said the girl initially picked up the fast food wrapper when asked by the patrolling officers, but immediately dropped it again sparking the confrontation. |
| One of the officers told BBC London 94.9 that they tried to take the girl way from the group to talk to her. It was at that point a girl jumped on him and started biting. | One of the officers told BBC London 94.9 that they tried to take the girl way from the group to talk to her. It was at that point a girl jumped on him and started biting. |
| "Then my colleague got pulled to the ground by a group of young males, so we had to call for urgent assistance because you are fearing for your life," he said. | "Then my colleague got pulled to the ground by a group of young males, so we had to call for urgent assistance because you are fearing for your life," he said. |
| Hospital treatment | Hospital treatment |
| "They started kicking him. I had this girl on my back who was biting me, so I had to throw her off and then retain her so she could get arrested." | "They started kicking him. I had this girl on my back who was biting me, so I had to throw her off and then retain her so she could get arrested." |
| The officers, aged 34 and 29, suffered bruising and knee injuries and are currently on sick leave. | The officers, aged 34 and 29, suffered bruising and knee injuries and are currently on sick leave. |
| The officer who received the bite wound required hospital treatment. | The officer who received the bite wound required hospital treatment. |
| He had originally contacted BBC London to discuss proposals to restrict the sale of alcohol to under-21s and talked about the Croydon attack. | He had originally contacted BBC London to discuss proposals to restrict the sale of alcohol to under-21s and talked about the Croydon attack. |
| We have heard from several retailers in the area who were horrified at the level of violence used by the crowd against the officers Insp Simon Ellingham | We have heard from several retailers in the area who were horrified at the level of violence used by the crowd against the officers Insp Simon Ellingham |
| The officer said Croydon town centre was "very well policed" with at least six officers patrolling on foot at any time. | The officer said Croydon town centre was "very well policed" with at least six officers patrolling on foot at any time. |
| "It amazes you, it actually depresses you, the state of children today," he added. | "It amazes you, it actually depresses you, the state of children today," he added. |
| "The disrespect, not only for people who might be in the police but anyone older." | "The disrespect, not only for people who might be in the police but anyone older." |
| Officers have been examining CCTV footage from the area. | Officers have been examining CCTV footage from the area. |
| Insp Simon Ellingham said: "We have heard from several retailers in the area who were horrified at the level of violence used by the crowd against the officers." | Insp Simon Ellingham said: "We have heard from several retailers in the area who were horrified at the level of violence used by the crowd against the officers." |