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Cops shopped: officers park on red route, bus and cycle lane to pop to Tesco
Rob Parsons and Mark Blunden22 Jul 2011
When motorists saw two Metropolitan policemen parking against the red-route traffic - blocking both a bus lane and a cycle superhighway - they assumed the pair were answering a life-or-death 999 call.
But the "emergency" was something far more pressing: picking up their shopping.
The bad parking, which would have earned civilians a fine of at least £130, was captured on film by an angry resident in Kennington.
As the marked patrol car pulled up, cyclists, pedestrians and drivers were astonished to see two male officers simply stroll away.
Ten minutes later the pair came ambling back, one carrying a shopping bag from Tesco Express and appearing to check his receipt. The other appeared to be on hand to guard their dinner provisions. The footage was taken on Tuesday at 6.40pm on the northbound lane of Kennington Park Road, showing the patrol car in breach of signed rules stating drivers must not stop between 7am and 7pm, Monday to Saturday.
Passers-by were furious that the car not only obstructed oncoming buses but posed a hazard to cyclists.
The resident who filmed the incident, and asked not to be named, said: "I couldn't believe my eyes. There was no attempt to hide it and absolutely no sense of urgency. They were merrily strolling down the street with a bag of shopping going back to their car.
"I could understand if they were racing to a major incident or chasing down a suspect but blocking traffic just to pick up groceries is ridiculous.
"Everyone can appreciate the police have to eat and should take a break but anyone else parking like that would have been slapped with a fine."
A Met spokesman said: "The matter will be looked into to determine the exact circumstances of this incident and if any wrongdoing is established, it will be dealt with accordingly."
Transport for London said: "There is no stopping along the red route on Kennington Park Road between 7am and 7pm.
"However, marked emergency vehicles are exempt if on operational duty. TfL enforces the red route on Kennington Park Road to keep traffic moving smoothly and safely."
In April, a resident of Temple Fortune, in Barnet, photographed police using their blue lights to pull into a bus stop so they could collect coffees.
Anton Defanoir complained and the police said the behaviour of the two officers was being closely monitored.
Reader views (38)
Great story for padding out the paper, a better one would be why the Met alone has over 300k parking and violation tickets each year and who actually pays for them, also why the head of catering has actually got a new job (by some means or other) in charge of this,by simply renaming the department, maybe a case of a job for the girls?
- himfromthere, UK, 25/07/2011 00:03
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Must have taken a cue from the large numbers of black cab drivers who park on the Red Route in Tooley Street, SE1 which is also a cycle lane, also on Bishopsgate, EC2, another Red Route. I am happy to cut the police some slack.
- Peter, London, 23/07/2011 18:40
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Oh dear! a parking bay in a bus lane? oh dear.
- Steve, London, 23/07/2011 17:38
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Oh dear, this has to be bit embarassing for the Evening Standard..but Epic Fail Springs to mind
If you were to pay attention to the photos that members of the public send you then you would have probably realised that the officers were parked in a RED ROUTE PARKING BAY!!!
I expect an appology will be printed shortly
Come on, get off the Police's back and try to show a little support
I think the Police do a good job under difficult circumstances, I would like to thank them.
- Oh dear, Earth, 23/07/2011 11:11
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"Passers-by were furious that the car not only obstructed oncoming buses but posed a hazard to cyclists"
Passers-by furious? Why? Was the pavement obstructed?
And when that very same place is blocked by a Tesco delivery lorry, which happens all the time, isn't that a hazard to cyclists? Can't bicycles steer around obstacles, any more?
Note to the editor: Please report REAL news and not such guff. When I want to read rubbish, I'll buy the Daily Mail.
- John Smith, London, EUSSR, 23/07/2011 11:04
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As usual one rule for them and one for the rest of us. Hope they get sacked for this, but doubt it as nothing is ever done when they break the law.
- mike, London and once Gt.Britain, 22/07/2011 11:32
For heavens sake, it was a parking violation, not a crime. They may not have been on Police business, but it is a minor offence in the scheme of things. If we need to keep officers on the streets, whats the problem with them picking up their lunch. Cut them some slack for God's sake. They do a job most of us would run a mile from.
- Bazza, Basildon. Essex, 23/07/2011 10:41
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".......if any wrongdoing is established, it will be dealt with accordingly."
That is to say, completely ignored.
I sort of agree that in days past we would have overlooked their minor transgressions - but that was when they afforded the public the same courtesy. Now they (metaphorically speaking) hunt by simply finding the nearest field and shoot the cows, because it is easier than doing the real work and catching crims. So, as you sow so shall you reap: Nail em'.
- trip hazard, Cambridge, 23/07/2011 09:13
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God bless them they need a break like the rest of us,clearing up the s..t of the drunks and the lowlife at the week end.Well done to our boys in blue.
- edward, london, 22/07/2011 21:01
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...still laughing at Redsquare confusing Kennington and Kensington, to such as extent that I forgot what the story is about. Oh yes, about a couple of coppers parking their car. That was it...NEXT!!!
- Rod, Epping, UK, 22/07/2011 20:44
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When taking a similar picture I was threatened with arrest due to some section 5 public order offence and also told they could confiscate my mobile phone, nasty horrible set of jobsworths the police have become in this country, I would not help any one of them ever.
- Benny, Manc, 22/07/2011 19:24
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Do as I say not as I do culture in the UK!!
- Black Knight, London, 22/07/2011 18:06
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I think these two coppers should have gone to Mcdonalds for their lunch.The police often leave those premises with a lot more than a quarter pound(er).
On a more serious note,the reason you often see emergency vehicles parking as close as possible to food outlets is because the officers are on call.They would have to drop everything in an instant and race off on a shout.Canteens are few and far between for the Police and non-existant on ambulance and fire stations.Emergency service staff still need to eat like everyone else,would you rather their attendance is delayed by 10 minutes while they walk back to the nearest parking space?
TFL stated it was legal to park IF on Police business,Police Officers eating is part of a normal shift,therefore they were entitled to park there.
- Bill Pitt, Victoria, 22/07/2011 18:02
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In these modern times where standards have been lowered, I expect nothing will be done to the two officers of any great significance.
- Lord Lucan, Brazil, 22/07/2011 17:43
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The police officers who patrol our streets have a difficult enough time without everyone getting on their cases. Yes, there are a few bad eggs but that's no different to any other trade. As a journalist myself we're right up there in the spotlight at the moment. This was stupid and inconsiderate parking error and a slapped wrist should be administered, nothing else.
A number of good friends of mine are policemen and the job they do leaves them physically and mentally exhausted dealing with the often feral behaviour of many of London's finest residents. In the past couple of weeks one of my policeman mates has been attacked, bitten, punched, and held over a high rise banister while on duty. As a young white male policeman, he often has the dubious honour of having to walk the streets of SE London on a single man patrol and endure every bit of abuse and racist taunt going. We should be proud of the job they're doing. Racism doesn't always follow the traditional model we Londoners tend think it does.
Mostly these brave cops are great at their jobs and if something happened to any one of us or our families we'd soon be running to them.
Re: Redsquare London
It said Kennington, not Kensington!
- A.J Freeman, London, 22/07/2011 17:35
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The police officers who patrol our streets have a difficult enough time without everyone getting on their cases. Yes, there are a few bad eggs but that's no different to any other trade. As a journalist myself we're right up there in the spotlight at the moment. This was stupid and inconsiderate parking error and a slapped wrist should be administered, nothing else.
A number of good friends of mine are policemen and the job they do leaves them physically and mentally exhausted dealing with the often feral behaviour of many of London's finest residents. In the past couple of weeks one of my policeman mates has been attacked, bitten, punched, and held over a high rise banister while on duty. As a young white male policeman, he often has the dubious honour of having to walk the streets of SE London on a single man patrol and endure every bit of abuse and racist taunt going. We should be proud of the job they're doing. Racism doesn't always follow the traditional model we Londoners tend think it does.
Mostly these brave cops are great at their jobs and if something happened to any one of us or our families we'd soon be running to them.
Re: Redsquare London
It said Kennington, not Kensington!
- A.J Freeman, London, 22/07/2011 17:33
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Sacking them would indeed be OTT. Surely the appropriate punishment is for their superior officer to present them with the evidence and tell them to issue tickets....
to themselves. And to make darned sure they're paid.
- Nigel, London, 22/07/2011 17:23
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Poor dears... they'd been 45minutes without a pee-break!
- Crazy Hippie, Airstrip One, Oceania., 22/07/2011 17:16
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I've seen a Police car put on the blue lights to cross a red light to make an urgent appointment with the military liaison officer, Colonel Sanders. They had to make an urgent investigation into a bucket. And you know what? Good luck to them!
- Carl, London, 22/07/2011 16:43
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AS we are told police numbers are to be reduced, how about these two for starters
- Tony, Nowy Sancz POLAND, 22/07/2011 16:11
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How many times have I seen other vans and motor vehicles park on the bus lane, especially on brixton road! At least the police car parked on the parking bay even if the bay is not operational. Maybe the police made a mistake and misread the parking operational times. It can happen!
- driver, london, 22/07/2011 15:09
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Never mind if things go the way our Leader intend them to go most of these cops will either end up in security or down the dole office looking for work. The question is ,will the person in the street notice the amount of police missing ? of course not ,you can't get hold of them today ,there always to busy doing far more important things like charging up and down the high street wasting fuel. or setting out to catch those on drugs but not having a plan of action .And so it goes on . Still as the council tax goes towards funding the police there should come about a reduction , Yes or will this government find other ways to spend the money.
- Hamilton Straker, Ealing West London, 22/07/2011 14:48
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"Don't do as I do - just do as I say"......
- Mark, St Albans, 22/07/2011 14:40
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Coffee and doughnuts? The public safety is the supreme law?.
- scony, middlesbrough, 22/07/2011 14:32
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@tony, Battersea - The police had a point. As the driver of the vehicle, it's up to you to ensure that you have enough petrol to get from A to B before undertaking the journey. This is stated in Rule 97 of The Highway Code. You can read it online to refresh your memory.
- Rupert Rigsby, Bleak House, 22/07/2011 14:10
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here in france I had a good one. In the middle of the night the gendarmes were chasing a young guy. He crashed. They pushed the car onto the handiapped parking space. When local traders phoned to ask the car to be removed the gendarmes denied all responsability.The car stayed there for 3 weeks despite protests.I made 10 posters and stuck them on the car asking " Is this a handicapped parking space or the gendarmes' scrap yard?"
Within 30 mins the car was gone.
- Terry, Hennebont France, 22/07/2011 14:00
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Wow!1!! A horrific offence!!!!1!! Hang them, I say!!1!
(Jeez, get a grip, people.)
- Steve, London, 22/07/2011 13:39
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As a disabled person my car ran out of petrol on a red line on a Sunday I was showing my disabled badge while someone went to get petrol for me within a 2 minutes a police car came along and I was given a parking ticket even thou I explained what had happen I was told there are no excuses. Of course unless your a policeman shopping
- tony, Battersea, 22/07/2011 13:38
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It looks like Rob from London has been sniffing his own pepper spray -- Again.
- Mark H, London England, 22/07/2011 13:20
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Yes Rob must be a copper. Having been a victim of crime twice myself what did our police do? - Nothing, even had to wait over a week for a crime scene number. Sure there are a few good Police out there but from what I see and have experienced myself they are few and far between.
- mike, London and once Gt.Britain, 22/07/2011 13:12
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Why can't they be named and fined like everyone else. That would do me.
- MJ, East Anglia, 22/07/2011 13:00
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- TEXAWOO, london uk, 22/07/2011 12:32
Actually I'm not. I'm just fed up with the constant slagging people like the police get when most do a good job. Same goes for teachers, nurses etc etc. Seems to me that all are lumped together in a profession whenever there is something wrong when really any intelligent person should know better.
- Rob, From London, 22/07/2011 12:57
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Again and again we see examples of one rule for them and another rule for us. Just look at the number of free parking bays in London designated for 'diplomats'. Why is is so difficult for these pompous people to find and pay for parking in the same way that everybody else does? Congratulations to the Evening Standard for publishing this report.
- Simon Ellis, London, 22/07/2011 12:32
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i take it that Rob is copper.
i do agree - sacking them would be over the top but one has to ask the question "what made them think they can get away with it? as the police watch the public - i think the public should watch the police and hold themto account as they do us!! fair justice. if the report above is wwrong, then they can take action. so if it evidence they have in a Tesco bag....
- TEXAWOO, london uk, 22/07/2011 12:32
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It happens all the time. One morning I was in a sandwich shop in Holborn when the police parked up outside. They left their car in a bus line and rushed in. I thought there was an emergency, someone had stolen the cheese, the pies were off, who knows.....Turns out they'd popped in for toast and coffee. Meanwhile the traffic backed up down Kingsway and round Aldwych.
- Julian E, London, 22/07/2011 12:31
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I'm sure the internal investigation will conclude they were on "police business", and no action will be taken. I would have thought demotion to footpatrol for 2 months, somewhere far nastier than Kensington would encourage them not to do it again.
- redsquare, london, 22/07/2011 12:14
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- mike, London and once Gt.Britain, 22/07/2011 11:32
Yep, that's rational. Sack them for a minor transgression. Good work Mike. Don't worry about the thousands spent o their training or the good that they may have done. And while you're looking at this I must also congratulate you on the generalisation of 'us' and 'them'. In case you hadn't noticed the police number in their thousands and most are great. But you lump them altogether why don't you if that makes you feel better. Lastly, how do you KNOW that the bag they were carrying wasn't evidence of some sort as opposed to shopping. You don't do you but I doubt you feel a need to think when an opportunity pops up to have a go at the police.
- Rob, From London, 22/07/2011 12:02
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This month we've learned that police officers are accused of taking money from Compensation Cowboy firms by selling for selling them private contact details of crime victims to Compensation Cowboys. And of taking money from tabloid journalists for information. Plus they feel justified in killing members of the public during protest marchers. I don't know about anyone else, but my childhood belief that they are good people and society's safety net has long since worn off.
- Sue, London, 22/07/2011 11:49
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As usual one rule for them and one for the rest of us. Hope they get sacked for this, but doubt it as nothing is ever done when they break the law.
- mike, London and once Gt.Britain, 22/07/2011 11:32
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