This is the shocking moment a man is arrested by police officers after he was feeding pigeons. Footage and pictures show the man handcuffed and being pushed against a police car door surrounded by three officers.
A large bag of birdseed can be seen next to him on the kerbside. As bemused shoppers look on, the man can be heard telling officers: “I feed birds that’s my religion.” Footage shows the distressed man hunched over and as he is led into the back of a police van. The door to the vehicle then shuts and an officer can be heard saying the man is “under arrest” following the incident in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, on June 27.
Tony Gath, who witnessed what happened, said he felt “disturbed” by what he had seen. He added: “It was disgusting behaviour. All they had to do was educate the man on where he can and can’t feed the birds, then send him on his way.
“I’m disturbed they felt that level of intimidation and power was acceptable at all, not just in public.”
The video was shared on social media, sparking uproar among locals. One said: “This man is such a peaceful and kind man. He regularly feeds the birds and also gives others food to feed them. This is disgusting.”
Another said: “What a waste of resources… Poor man is clearly distressed… Police should be ashamed… Nice to see where my tax goes!” A third local said: “That’s shocking and such a waste of precious resources.” A fourth said: “How many Police for one man feeding birds?”
Others commented, “5 police, 2 cars, having a laugh”, and “he will most probably get more than the shop lifters”.
Wirral Council’s website says there are “no laws” the council can effectively use to stop people feeding wild birds.
Environmental Health may be able to “take action in significant and excessive cases” where rotten food waste is accumulating or the bird feeding can be shown to be the cause of an infestation of rats or mice.
Cheshire Police said the council had previously reported that feeding of the birds in the area was causing an “increase in vermin”.
They also said officers only arrested the man who was feeding birds after be became “verbally and physically aggressive” towards an officer.
A spokesperson for the force said: “At around 2.15pm on Friday 27th June, officers on patrol in Ellesmere Port town centre spoke to a man who was feeding birds in the area.
“The council had previously reported to police that the feeding of the birds was causing an increase in vermin in the area and that they needed the details of the male to speak to him.
“An officer attempted to engage with the man, but he became verbally and physically aggressive towards the officer.”
The spokesperson confirmed the man was arrested for a public order offence, but he “subsequently calmed down” and was de-arrested.