This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29784493
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 7 | Version 8 |
---|---|
Jogger in PM security alert had 'no idea' what happened | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A member of the public who caused a security alert when he bumped into David Cameron in Leeds has said he had "no idea" it was the prime minister. | |
Dean Farley said he was only aware that he had collided with Mr Cameron an hour after he had been arrested by police. | |
He told the BBC he was "not a political person" and was just going out on his daily lunchtime jog to the gym when he ran into a "bunch of men in suits". | |
Mr Cameron has downplayed the incident, now the subject of a police review. | |
Mr Cameron was quickly driven away from the scene after the encounter outside the Civic Hall in Leeds. | |
West Yorkshire Police said "nothing sinister" had taken place but the Metropolitan Police, which provides personal security for the prime minister, said there would be a review of the incident. | West Yorkshire Police said "nothing sinister" had taken place but the Metropolitan Police, which provides personal security for the prime minister, said there would be a review of the incident. |
The prime minister was in Leeds to launch government plans to upgrade rail links in the north of England. | The prime minister was in Leeds to launch government plans to upgrade rail links in the north of England. |
A member of Mr Cameron's security team intervened as a man appeared to dart towards the prime minister. Officers then bundled the man away as the prime minister got into a waiting vehicle. | A member of Mr Cameron's security team intervened as a man appeared to dart towards the prime minister. Officers then bundled the man away as the prime minister got into a waiting vehicle. |
Mr Farley later declared himself to be the man at the centre of the incident. | Mr Farley later declared himself to be the man at the centre of the incident. |
He wrote on Facebook: "So I'm all over the news as 'the protester that attacked david cameron in leeds' yeah if you call brushing into someone while running then getting assaulted by half a dozen coppers[...]" | He wrote on Facebook: "So I'm all over the news as 'the protester that attacked david cameron in leeds' yeah if you call brushing into someone while running then getting assaulted by half a dozen coppers[...]" |
Mr Farley, who was released by police without charge after being questioned, is a member of Spartan Racing, which organises extreme running events. | Mr Farley, who was released by police without charge after being questioned, is a member of Spartan Racing, which organises extreme running events. |
'No threats' | 'No threats' |
Following the incident, Chief Inspector Derek Hughes of West said: ''Around midday, a 28-year-old local man was briefly arrested after he came close to the prime minister's group who had just left the Civic Hall in Leeds. | |
''No threats were made, and after the man's details were checked, he was de-arrested and allowed on his way.'' | ''No threats were made, and after the man's details were checked, he was de-arrested and allowed on his way.'' |
The BBC's Tom Symonds said a member of Mr Cameron's party told him the prime minister stepped back as the man ran towards him and was not in contact with him. | |
The prime minister's close security is generally provided by officers from SO1 Specialist Protection, part of the Metropolitan Police's Protection Command. | The prime minister's close security is generally provided by officers from SO1 Specialist Protection, part of the Metropolitan Police's Protection Command. |
Labour MP Keith Vaz said he would be "astonished" if there was not a review of procedures. | Labour MP Keith Vaz said he would be "astonished" if there was not a review of procedures. |
"It could have ended in a completely different scenario," he told Sky News, adding that Mr Farley's actions had caused a "great deal of concern". | "It could have ended in a completely different scenario," he told Sky News, adding that Mr Farley's actions had caused a "great deal of concern". |
'Prescott punch' | |
But another former Met officer, Peter Power said that although "questions would be asked" about the incident, it was "not catastrophic" and was unlikely to lead to major changes. | But another former Met officer, Peter Power said that although "questions would be asked" about the incident, it was "not catastrophic" and was unlikely to lead to major changes. |
He told the BBC News Channel that the fact that the man had been taken away so quickly showed the police response "worked reasonably well". | He told the BBC News Channel that the fact that the man had been taken away so quickly showed the police response "worked reasonably well". |
Former deputy prime minister Lord Prescott, who punched a protester during the 2001 general election campaign after being hit by an egg, said the episode proved that security around top politicians needed to be "tightened up". | Former deputy prime minister Lord Prescott, who punched a protester during the 2001 general election campaign after being hit by an egg, said the episode proved that security around top politicians needed to be "tightened up". |
Speaking during a parliamentary statement on last week's EU summit, Mr Cameron jokingly made reference to the so-called "Prescott punch". | Speaking during a parliamentary statement on last week's EU summit, Mr Cameron jokingly made reference to the so-called "Prescott punch". |
"I was actually in a meeting in Leeds speaking to a group of city leaders and other politicians and John Prescott was in the room as I gave the speech," he told MPs. | "I was actually in a meeting in Leeds speaking to a group of city leaders and other politicians and John Prescott was in the room as I gave the speech," he told MPs. |
"And as I left the room I thought the moment of maximum danger had probably passed but clearly that wasn't the case." | "And as I left the room I thought the moment of maximum danger had probably passed but clearly that wasn't the case." |
Mr Cameron said he wanted to put on record the "debt" he owed to those who protect him on a daily basis, saying they did a "very good job". | |
It comes less than a week after a man threw a bag of marbles at the glass screen which separates the public from MPs in the House of Commons. | It comes less than a week after a man threw a bag of marbles at the glass screen which separates the public from MPs in the House of Commons. |
That incident took place during Prime Minister's Questions. |