Mounted police officers have been labelled “a joke” after three surrounded a homeless man on a bench and in an attempt to remove him from the busy high street.
The situation attracted a large crowd of onlookers of about 20 shoppers watching on in Briggate. The three mounted West Yorkshire Police officers surrounded the bench infront of the EE shop at about 12.30pm on February 8.
After the officers’ efforts appeared unsuccessful, one onlooker theatrically began clapping his hands in fake applause. The man called after them: “What a joke! You’ve been here half an hour trying to remove a homeless man away from a bench and you can’t even do that.”
During the incident, another man, amused by the police response even grabbed hold of one of the horse’s reigns. The officer shouted at him to “Let go!”
The officer then pleaded with the gathering crowd to disperse, reminding them it was none of their business. Shortly after the officers trotted away, the man on the bench decided to leave and the crowd dispersed.
West Yorkshire Police has been asked for a comment.
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