Man Charged After BBC Journalist Chased By Anti-Lockdown Protesters

 

A man has been charged after a BBC journalist was chased by anti-lockdown protesters in Westminster.

Video footage confirmed Newsnight’s political editor Nicholas Watt being pursued by protesters outside Downing Street on Monday afternoon.

The Metropolitan Police stated an investigation was launched after officers reviewing the recording “identified a wide variety of feasible offences”.

Martin Hockridge, 57, of Harpenden, was interviewed beneath warning at a Hertfordshire police station on Tuesday.

He was later charged with a public order offence and will show up at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 29 June.

Detectives are appealing for the public’s assist to pick out other people who were involved in the incident.

Police stated in a statement: “Officers investigating an incident in which a journalist was confronted and chased in the neighborhood of Whitehall have charged a man.

“A video that has been shared extensively on social media indicates a crew of protestors pursuing the journalist first on Whitehall, then into Richmond Terrace, on the afternoon of Monday, 14 June.

“After reviewing the video footage, officers identified a range of feasible offences and an investigation was launched.

“On Tuesday afternoon, Martin Hockridge, 57, of Harpenden, was interviewed under caution at a Hertfordshire police station.

“Later the same evening, he was charged with an offence beneath Section 4A of the Public Order Act, namely using threatening, abusive or insulting phrases or behaviour toward another person with the intention to cause them harassment, alarm or distress.”