Fury is mounting at Sussex Police after video emerged of a PCSO refusing to attend an alleged assault at a Co-op store just seconds away – telling a member of the public who approached him for help ‘but then I’ll have to deal with it’.
Footage of the incident in Lancing shows a witness approach the officer, parked up in a marked police car, to report an alleged incident at the supermarket just 200-300 yards away.
The witness claimed there had been a fight sparked by people trying to stop shoplifters – with a member of the public attacked – and asked the police community support officer to get to the scene.
But the officer – whose response is now being reviewed by the force – told the witness he was not part of a response unit and appeared to refuse to deal with the incident.
T force apologised for the ‘clumsy language used by the PCSO’ as they investigate.
The exchange on Thursday, which was recorded on dashcam and quickly shared on TikTok, comes as police are increasingly criticised over high numbers of reported crimes that never result in a conviction.
A former Scotland Yard detective, Mike Neville, told MailOnline he was ‘appalled’ when he saw the video, saying every day the public’s trust in the police ‘ebbs away’ and that the footage shows ‘police are not on your side’.
Another ex Scotland Yard detective, Peter Bleksley, has also since hit out at Sussex Police – telling Good Morning Britain the incident was a ‘dreadful look’ for the force and that an officer wearing a uniform and in a marked car should have dealt with the disturbance ‘and actually done what they are paid to do.’
In footage of the incident, a witness is heard telling the officer: ‘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.
‘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 then says: ‘I know you’re not, but the sight of the car will make them scatter. ‘
The police officer then replies: ‘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.’
Mike Neville, former Scotland Yard detective, told MailOnline: ‘When you join the police you join to help the community. They have got to be able to deal with emergencies,’ he said.
‘It’s no good just sitting there. I was appalled.’
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 from where he was parked up to the Co-op.
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 [work] 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.’
