VIDEO: Swimmers shocked as police restrain man at Littledown Centre (From Bournemouth Echo)
When news happens text pix and video to 80360. Start your message with BE then leave a space.
VIDEO: Swimmers shocked as police restrain man at Littledown Centre
12:00pm Thursday 4th October 2012 in News By Jane Reader
VIDEO: Swimmers shocked as police restrain man at Littledown Centre
POLICE jumped into a swimming pool in their uniforms to remove a man causing a disturbance before handcuffing him on the pool side.
Shocked visitors to the Littledown Centre in Bournemouth watched in amazement as the two officers waded half a length of the pool to pull the man from the water at 6.30pm on Tuesday before handcuffing him and using limb restraints on his legs.
Staff members and other pool users were on hand to help remove the man from the shallow end but police later concluded no offence had been committed.
Chief Inspector Chris Weeks of Bournemouth police confirmed officers had been called to the centre following a report of a disturbance.
He added: “Dorset Police responded to a report of an aggressive male shouting and swearing in a public place.
“There were concerns for members of the public as this incident was taking place in a public swimming pool.
“The officers in attendance were faced with a potentially high-risk environment to work in where positive action was essential to prevent a breach of the peace.
“When the officers tried to remove the man from the pool, he was very aggressive.
"On removing the man from the pool he had to be handcuffed to the front. He tried to kick out with his legs requiring the officers to apply limb restraints. The officers acted appropriately at all times using Home Office approved methods and equipment.”
He said swift action was taken to remove the man from the pool but said no further action was taken following inquiries. The man was taken home.
Colette Kiernander, general manager at the Littledown Centre, said: “There was an incident, which is currently being reviewed.
“Employees monitored the situation closely at all times in accordance with our procedures and I’d like to thank them and the authorities for their assistance.”
One spectator at the pool, Sharese Taylor, sent the Echo video footage she took of the incident.
Footage posted by Sharese Taylor on YouTube
One onlooker has told the Daily Echo she believes the man was unfairly treated by Littledown staff and the police.
She said: “A man did indeed have unacceptable threatening behaviour to a bunch of young boys who were splashing around him and potentially being a nuisance. They did not deserve the abuse the man threw at them.
“What followed was farcical – four police cars, an entourage of police and members of the general public filling every window available.
“We need to be much more supportive and open with people who are clearly distressed.
“At no time did I see him hit out. I fully believe this man would have been OK to continue his swim.”
Dorset Police declined to confirm how many officers attended the scene.
Edit: this story was changed on October 4 to correct the suggestion in Chief Inspector Chris Weeks quotes that the man was handcuffed in the pool.
Comments(41)
pete woodley
says...
12:24pm Thu 4 Oct 12
oldharryrocks!
says...
12:29pm Thu 4 Oct 12
B.F.G
says...
12:31pm Thu 4 Oct 12
markymark3
says...
12:40pm Thu 4 Oct 12
Arthur Maureen
says...
12:51pm Thu 4 Oct 12
pete woodley
says...
12:51pm Thu 4 Oct 12
markymark3 wrote:We do not know the whole story,but as the man was not charged,we can assume he was not committing an offence.
So the onlooker would have been quite happy for her kids to be there while this man was swearing, there's a big difference between swearing on a saturday night on the street, and a public swimming pool.
Azphreal
says...
12:57pm Thu 4 Oct 12
cyclejim
says...
1:02pm Thu 4 Oct 12
pete woodley
says...
1:04pm Thu 4 Oct 12
TinyLegacy
says...
1:27pm Thu 4 Oct 12
jobsworthwatch
says...
2:07pm Thu 4 Oct 12
Didn't the health and safety legislation a while back prevent a policeman from 'jumping in' to save a man who was drowning?
Old Colonial
says...
2:24pm Thu 4 Oct 12
1. The Littledown had the chance to have staff on hand trained in dealing with people likely to react as this man did as part of wider disability support services. But no interest and funding cut. They certainly need to review their procedures PDQ.
2. The alleged behaviour of the young boys should have been a priority also.
3. As for swearing, in my experience of working at the Centre, more bad language and behaviour comes from young boys in the changing rooms than any group of adult males.
I hope the man recovers from what was likely to have been for him a very traumatic event.
allornothing
says...
2:36pm Thu 4 Oct 12
Azphreal wrote:to quote....
Well nice to see the police can handcuff someone when no offence has taken place.
“When the officers tried to remove the man from the pool, he was very aggressive.
"On removing the man from the pool he had to be handcuffed to the front. He tried to kick out with his legs requiring the officers to apply limb restraints. The officers acted appropriately at all times using Home Office approved methods and equipment.”
Section 5 Public Order is the offence. I'm sure a number of the swimmers were offended by this male.
Police have the right to handcuff anyone that is 'potentially' violent. If this male is showing signs of aggression, I would class that as potentially violent
nicoAFCB
says...
2:43pm Thu 4 Oct 12
scrumpyjack
says...
3:07pm Thu 4 Oct 12
muscliffman
says...
4:35pm Thu 4 Oct 12
Does not help their case against front-line cuts, apart from the waste of existing resources.
New Commissioner please note.
manyogie
says...
5:17pm Thu 4 Oct 12
cyclejim wrote:Correct, as at the Dolphin, basically, no filming, cameras or image taking due, in the main, to stop predatory perverts.
Does the Littledown Centre not have a policy surrounding video and photography in the public viewing area?
Suggest `Sharese` stop advertising her disregard of this condition of use and worry more about how many Police could turn up at her house than how many are on on wan*er out to bully and spoil others day out.
manyogie
says...
5:19pm Thu 4 Oct 12
Old Colonial wrote:co*k !
“We need to be much more supportive and open with people who are clearly distressed. At no time did I see him hit out. I fully believe this man would have been OK to continue his swim.” Exactly.
1. The Littledown had the chance to have staff on hand trained in dealing with people likely to react as this man did as part of wider disability support services. But no interest and funding cut. They certainly need to review their procedures PDQ.
2. The alleged behaviour of the young boys should have been a priority also.
3. As for swearing, in my experience of working at the Centre, more bad language and behaviour comes from young boys in the changing rooms than any group of adult males.
I hope the man recovers from what was likely to have been for him a very traumatic event.
If youd been the target, youd be jumpin up n down wantin punishment
Nimby !
looby31
says...
5:34pm Thu 4 Oct 12
pete woodley
says...
5:37pm Thu 4 Oct 12
bobthedestroyer
says...
8:01pm Thu 4 Oct 12
Palantir
says...
8:51pm Thu 4 Oct 12
bobthedestroyer wrote:Look out for tomorrow's story where Sharese has been banned from the pool for disregard of that rule!
I trust Sharese got everyone's permission to put the video on YouTube. I'm sure the Littledown Centre have clear notices around that. Also the Echo promoting said video, again a breach of people's privacy. Or am I bring pedantic?! Current PC world, who the he'll knows anymore.
Yankee1
says...
11:44pm Thu 4 Oct 12
s-pb2
says...
12:40am Fri 5 Oct 12
hello12345
says...
1:42am Fri 5 Oct 12
There is not enough respect for people doing the correct things in these situations, I mean if the staff allowed this man to continue then there would have been a story about a disruptive man who was allowed to stay in the pool.
pete woodley
says...
9:08am Fri 5 Oct 12
lily4me
says...
9:58am Fri 5 Oct 12
scrumpyjack
says...
10:56am Fri 5 Oct 12
Yankee1 wrote:lol
Taser + water = shocking.
hello12345
says...
11:32am Fri 5 Oct 12
pete woodley wrote:I can ensure you that the staff are told to treat all customers the same. If they treat somebody different because of disabilities then this would be discrimination. And as for the youths i am sure they were dealt with in accordance to what they have done, most pools have a warning system for behavior like this. I just think that its wrong that people automatically assume that the staff didn't handle it correctly. It does not mention what happened to the youths and yet people are guessing nothing !!
It still looks like it was NOT handled in a correct manner,and if the man has mental problems,then it was definetly the wrong way to deal with him and very disturbing,were the youths taking the mickey?,it would not be the first time.so they get away with their actions do they.Looby31's comment is refreshing to hear,old colonial,also makes some good points.Some of the parents should be ashamed of themselves.
hammer
says...
12:22pm Fri 5 Oct 12
Gooby!
says...
2:17pm Fri 5 Oct 12
hammer wrote:Somehow, I dont find that hard to believe!
I am a regular swimmer and have been the victim of "pool rage" over the past few years. I have been sworn at, kicked while swimming - there are some nutters out there!
kangman2012
says...
3:45pm Fri 5 Oct 12
lelbel
says...
5:32pm Fri 5 Oct 12
pete woodley
says...
5:53pm Fri 5 Oct 12
pete woodley
says...
5:55pm Fri 5 Oct 12
lily4me wrote:I have had loads of experience as did security for many years.Dont make comments till you know the person you are attacking.
Of course it was handled correctly - the problem is that the people who make these comments have no life experience when it comes to dealing with violent people. The Police acted according to the conditions at the time. For once just show respect for what they do and what they have to deal with. I wonder how you would deal with it Mr Woodley ??!!
mr_bean
says...
6:10pm Fri 5 Oct 12
fifty shades of brown envelopes
says...
7:08pm Fri 5 Oct 12
that would give us all an lol
mr_bean
says...
9:31am Sat 6 Oct 12
fifty shades of brown envelopes wrote:What you talking there, man? Please give a translation into normal English so we can know whether to praise or pillory you......
I would like to see the nutters off this site on a video
that would give us all an lol
Simonb12
says...
5:40pm Sat 6 Oct 12
pete woodley
says...
8:39pm Sat 6 Oct 12
Simonb12 wrote:What on earth are you on about.
That will teach him trying to slip in on a student/OAP ticket, this is the only launguage these people understand. I hope he gets five years.
Angry_of_Merley says...
12:16pm Thu 4 Oct 12