Police backlash at Diane Abbott for claiming officers used 'disproportionate force' in arrest of black man in London

MP Diane Abbott has sparked a fierce backlash from police after she accused police of using "disproportionate force" during an arrest.

Footage that emerged last Thursday has circulated online which shows a man being taken to the ground by police officers.

He can be hear shouting “I can’t breathe” in the clip and tells officers to “calm down” during his arrest.

Scotland Yard has confirmed an investigation will take place into the situation and it has been referred to its internal Directorate of Professional Standards.

They said body cameras were used throughout the arrest.

Ms Abbott, Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, said: “Too often a disproportionate level of force is used by police against young black men. It has to stop.

“Evidence based stop & search is important in fighting crime, but all that we see here is the type of video that poisons police-community relations.”

This comment, made on Saturday, was quickly seized upon by current and former police force members, who took issue with its content.

In rebuttal to her remarks, John Apter, chief of the Police Federation, wrote: “As Shadow Home Secretary these comments are inflammatory and cause tensions within communities.

“Such sweeping anti-police statements without knowing the facts are incredibly damaging. It is comments like these which poison police-community relations.”

While the Police Inspectors Forum on Twitter responded to what it deemed a “disappointing” comment.

Sharing Ms Abbott’s tweet, it wrote: “It really is so disappointing that you continue to make such ill informed comments. No mention of the personal responsibility to cooperate. You carry no credibility to be Home Secretary.”

While Mike Pannett, a former Met officer turned author, said it was “disgraceful”.

He wrote: “I’ve just seen this from the shadow Home Secretary. What a disgraceful comment to make. ALL police officers know exactly what the individual in the video was trying to do. Resist arrest and intimidate the officers. I and others have seen this 1000s of times. She’s NOT helping.”

Some people, however, supported Ms Abbott’s statement and echoed that they felt the police had responded excessively.

One said they acted “disproportionately”, another questioned if it as “justified” and one replied simply “hear hear”.

A man, 23, has been charged with possession of cannabis, obstructing a drugs search and two counts of assault on police and is due to appear at court on November 2.