THE Metropolitan Police is investigating after a video appeared to show England’s chief medical officer being harassed by two men in a park.
The footage, lasting around 20 seconds and apparently taken in St James’s Park in central London, shows two grinning men grabbing Whitty, apparently filmed by a third man, as they shout “Oi oi” and say “One photo please?”
As Whitty attempts to walk away, the men grab him again.
With a line of police vans visible in the background, a voice is heard saying “Leave the gentleman alone” before the clip ends.
The Met tweeted: “We are aware of a video being shared online showing an incident in St James’s Park. Officers spoke to all those involved at the time and their details were taken.
“We are in contact with the victim and the circumstances continue to be investigated.”
Former chief prosecutor Nazir Afzal called for protection for Whitty and other scientists advising the UK Government over pandemic-fighting measures.
“I know that if he was the statue of someone with a dubious past, he would have a dozen strong security detail,” Afzal tweeted. “This is just the latest incident of harassment involving the Chief Medical Advisor.”
TV news presenter Simon McCoy tweeted: “This is a complete disgrace. Chris Whitty should be protected from idiots like these.”
It is not the first time Whitty has been forced to endure public harassment.
Earlier this month, he was confronted in a street in Oxford by a man accusing him of lying to the public about coronavirus, while in February a man accosted the chief medical officer outside Westminster.
The incidents were filmed on mobile phones.
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