Swearing at an officer is not ground for arrest Photo: ALAMY
Police have been ordered not to arrest people who subject them to abuse, it has been revealed.
Scotland Yard has told its officers that bad language on its own is not a good enough reason to detain someone.
The guidance has been given on Justify, Account and Record memo cards, which
are carried on patrol.
According to The
Mail on Sunday the advice states: "The courts do not accept police
officers are caused harassment, alarm or distress by words such as: f---,
c---, b-----ks, w-----s."
It also informs officers that to place someone in handcuffs "for officer
safety" is "not sufficient" and "we can handcuff anyone
but we must be able to justify it".
A spokesman for the Met was unable to confirm the exact date the guidance was
issued, but said the cards had been in use "for several years".
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