Thames Valley Police responds to viral video in which officer is accused of littering

Thames Valley Police has addressed a viral video shared on TikTok where an officer is accused of littering.

Yesterday (4 October), a video was widely shared on social media where a Witney-based officer was confronted by a furious member of the public.

A man with a camera phone recorded his exchange with two police officers, accusing one of dropping a crust outside of a property.

It is believed that the incident, which ended with the officer picking up the crust before being driven away by his colleague, took place in West Oxfordshire.

In the video the officer does not deny dropping a piece of bread and picks up the item at the end of his exchange with the home-owner.

Thames Valley Police released a statement today, saying: “We are aware of a video being widely shared on social media involving one of our officers.

"The video has been reviewed internally and we have spoken to the officer involved.

“We have also been to discuss the encounter and the officer’s actions with the individual who recorded the video.

"We strive to learn from our encounters with the public so the officer involved has been given a chance to reflect on their actions and learn from them.

"We will also be asking our independent scrutiny group, which is made up of members of the public, if they have any further recommendations for us.”

Over 2.3 million people have viewed the video on TikTok which begins with a man asking the officer: “Have you got an excuse why you pull up outside my house and throw rubbish out your car?”

Initially the officer denies throwing rubbish outside, the man’s home before stating: “That’s actually just a sandwich crust.”

A tense exchange follows in which the recorder refuses to stop filming until the crust is picked up. The officer, alongside his colleague, initially declines to do so, asking the man to refrain from shouting and swearing.

However, the video finishes with the litter being removed by the police, and the man telling them, they have been “dismissed”.