A volunteer police officer in London has sparked controversy and calls for her removal from the force after a video went viral showing her telling a Christian gospel singer on Oxford Street that she was 'not allowed' to sing church songs outside of church grounds, suggesting Christians were harassed. Public figures like Ann Widdecombe suggested she should be struck off, and Julia Hartley-Brewer compared the restriction to the Islamic call to prayer being allowed over tannoys. The incident, which included the officer sticking her tongue out at the camera, has enraged free speech advocates. The Metropolitan Police have responded, stating that the officer knows she could have handled the situation differently.
📺 Watch: Gospel singer told she can’t sing religious songs by Met Police https://t.co/wCHNDodoch
British officer: "You're not allowed to sing church songs outside of church grounds." https://t.co/JfE864YwX1 https://t.co/JfE864YwX1
Revealed: Volunteer police officer who told Christian singer that she is 'not allowed' to perform 'church songs outside of church grounds' is a jet-setting Costa Coffee worker who moved to the UK from Bulgaria https://t.co/9lVSjEGepm https://t.co/83C5jRwCSY
"You're not allowed to sing Church songs outside of Church grounds." Unbelievable. https://t.co/kz4ULyrEu7
WATCH: 🇬🇧 It's 2024 in Britain and citizens are being told by police officers they are "not allowed to sing church songs outside of church." After this footage went viral, @metpoliceuk said the "officer knows she could have handled this differently" and said that "personal and… https://t.co/neOviRLts7
A volunteer police officer has enraged free speech advocates after telling a Christian woman she was "not allowed" to sing outside a church.
Scumbag copper > Moment volunteer police officer tells Christian singer on Oxford Street that she is 'not allowed' to perform 'church songs outside of church grounds' before walking off and sticking her tongue out to the camera via https://t.co/66wUuDXfYk https://t.co/Wh4wTieoin
In Oxford Street a Gospel singer is told by a policewoman she can't sing outside of a church. She has a foreign accent & I can see "Petkova" but not the first letters of her surname, which is Bulgarian. Her badge number is AW 5152. Never mind those who block Whitehall to pray. https://t.co/nl9gtxcmmn
Bizarre moment volunteer cop sticks her tongue out at gospel singer after telling her she is 'not allowed to sing church songs outside of church grounds' https://t.co/c1QJf8bTqY
‘You’re not allowed to sing church songs outside a church’ this very confused tongue-sticker-outer declares No wonder we have so many problems @metpoliceuk This is beyond parody @HarryTheOwl101 @Togetherdec Thank you @persephvoice This needs sorting https://t.co/e4Th28fSVO
Oxford Street, London over the weekend. @metpoliceuk telling Christians they're "not allowed to sing "church songs" outside of church". Islamic call to prayer blasting over tannoys, yet Christianity banned! She then sticks her tongue out at them. https://t.co/SE4rZvsxUB
Moment volunteer police officer tells Christian singer on Oxford Street that she is 'not allowed' to perform 'church songs outside of church grounds' before walking off and sticking her tongue out to the camera https://t.co/N7PM6hr7jW https://t.co/Pqt8dFlxg1
'WHAT?!?' Ann Widdecombe SHOCKED as Police Officer says 'you are NOT ALLOWED to sing Church songs! https://t.co/leCvZa3uJy
Julia Hartley-Brewer is furious over a viral clip showing a volunteer police officer prohibiting the singing of Church songs in a public place. “Weirdly, you’re allowed to shout for Jihad.” @JuliaHB1 https://t.co/4rIeApFLMR
ENGLAND 'You're not allowed to sing church songs outside the church grounds' Christians harassed for singing, in bizarre altercation with police officer https://t.co/fNXVKap0lH
ICYMI: 'She should be struck off from the voluntary force.' Ann Widdecombe reacts to a viral video of a volunteer police officer saying 'you are not allowed to sing Church songs outside of Church grounds'. https://t.co/l2G9gK7VW2
'She should be struck off from the voluntary force.' Ann Widdecombe reacts to a viral video of a volunteer police officer saying 'you are not allowed allowed to sing Church songs outside of Church grounds'. https://t.co/eHQWwKuSYg