Police investigation launched after video emerges of officer 'attacking car'

The Metropolitan Police has said it is investigating an incident in Camden after footage emerged on social media of a police officer causing damage to a car while shouting at the driver of the vehicle. The video, which has not been independently verified, appears to show a Met police officer smashing the windscreen of a car after the driver refuses to get out.

The officer is repeatedly heard telling the driver "Get out of the car" before saying "You're not allowed to drive yet." When the driver refuses to leave the vehicle the officer hits the driver's side window with a baton.

The driver is heard protesting, saying: "I've got a licence. I've got a licence. I've got insurance. You're smashing this for no reason."

The officer continues to strike the windscreen, shattering the glass and proceeding to cut it with what appears to be a penknife.

The driver insists he is 'not TJ'. He tells the officers he is filming and says: "Do you know what you just done?" to which the officer replies: "I've done absolutely nothing, I just need to know who you are."

The driver asks why the officer had smashed the car windscreen to which the policeman says: "I can't see who you are in that car".

The driver, who identified himself as Leon, filmed the footage as the altercation occurred in Camden, north London, at 17:00 BST on Friday (16 September).

Leon said he needed treatment in hospital after getting glass in his eyes. "Every time he smashed the glass, fragments of glass were just ricocheting in my face," he said. He told the Press Association the incident was just a case of "mistaken identity", but that it was "complete madness" and he is "still in shock".

The Met Police confirmed that the Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) has launched an investigation. A statement read: "The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) is aware of footage circulating on social media of an incident involving two uniformed officers in Camden.

"The incident took place at Weedington Road, NW5, at around 17:00 hours on Friday, 16 September. The footage will now be subject to an investigation by officers from the Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS).

"As soon as the MPS was made aware of the footage, the DPS was contacted immediately. The individual who uploaded the footage has been contacted by DPS officers. As this matter is in its early stages, the officers have not been suspended or placed on restricted duties. No one was arrested during the incident."

It is not known what led up to the incident and no one was arrested. The video footage, which was shared by a member of the So Solid Crew, has been viewed by 40,000 people who have reacted to the incident on social media, Metro reports.