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'Knocking people off bikes is potentially very dangerous': Corbyn's shadow HOME SECRETARY Diane Abbott faces furious backlash after she criticises Scotland Yard's new tactic of ramming moped gangs

Police have hit back at Labour's Diane Abbott after she criticised the Met for knocking moped yobs off their bikes. Scotland Yard ...

Police have hit back at Labour's Diane Abbott after she criticised the Met for knocking moped yobs off their bikes.
Scotland Yard was praised by Londoners last week after it released footage of its new 'tactical contact' method of catching scooter criminals.
Detectives explained they only use the technique - which involves tipping thieves onto the ground by driving into their bikes - when the riders become a danger to the public.
But Shadow Home Secretary Ms Abbott, who will be in charge of policing if Labour win the next election, was unimpressed by the footage.


Ms Abbott tweeted: 'Knocking people off bikes is potentially very dangerous. It shouldn't be legal for anyone. Police are not above the law.' 
The Labour frontbencher, who is MP for Hackney, a borough plagued by moped crime, waded into the debate four days after the police announcement. 
Stats released earlier this year show her constituency has seen more than 3,000 moped-enabled crimes in the last five years.
But the Labour party appears to back her views, with a spokesman saying: 'Major operational changes by the police that affect public and police officer safety need to have clear oversight and follow due process, especially where there is a potential impact for legal ramifications.'
But her comments aroused an angry response from both the public and police, who insisted her interpretation of the law was incorrect. 
John Apter, National Chair of the Police Federation, tweeted: 'My colleagues are doing the best they can to prevent robberies, violent attacks and muggings. All their decisions will be based on a wide range of information but they need the law to support them. This is very unhelpful.'


Camden Police replied: 'Someone who's responsible for law-making (or at least debating and ratifying new legislation) should probably realise that using tactical contact to terminate dangerous pursuits is entirely within our lawful power... And our responsibility.' 
Home Secretary Sajid Javid added: 'Risk-assessed tactical contact is exactly what we need. Criminals are not above the law.'

Londoners also defended the police's new methods and accused Ms Abbott of being 'on the side of criminals'.
Charlie Mullins, head of Pimlico Plumbers, wrote: 'It is also dangerous when these moped thieves rob people. Let's hope when they get knocked off the mopeds they never get on them again, Diana Abbott you need to get a proper job.'
A Twitter user who had witnessed one of the crimes, added: 'Sorry Diane, you're wrong on this one. I've seen them mount the pavement to rob people while wearing bandanas and no helmets. They're a nuisance and they're breaking the law. If they don't stop when requested to by the law then they'll have to be stopped forcibly!'
The Met revealed on Friday that specially-trained drivers are tipping criminals on to the ground or on to the bonnets of their cars to get them off the streets.
Extraordinary dashcam footage showed suspects being sent flying into the air, with one telling officers: 'I took my helmet off so I thought you'd stop chasing me.'
Scotland Yard said the tough new tactics cut crimes linked to two-wheeled machines by a third, from 19,000 offences to 12,500.
They are being rolled out across the country to stop mopeds being the transport of choice for reckless career criminals with no regard of the law.
Force chiefs have said there is no maximum speed for police cars to hit mopeds, and that it is a common misconception among moped thieves that officers will end their pursuit if the suspect drives dangerously or removes their helmet.
Commander Amanda Pearson said: 'Offenders on mopeds and motorcycles who attempt to evade the police are making a choice that puts themselves and others at risk.
'So our message is clear: We can, we will and we do target those involved in moped and motorcycle crime at every opportunity.'
The new tactics have however led to police groups calling for protection for officers who use 'tactical contact' in high speed chases.
Ken Marsh, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, asked: 'Will they be backed? Or will they be left to the mercy of the courts? Will their livelihood and liberty be put at risk? Because that is the reality and our major concern.'

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