Man charged after journalist confronted outside Downing Street
The video was widely shared on social media.
Police in London have charged a man after a video shared on social media showed a group of protestors chasing after and shouting at a journalist outside Downing Street.
The video that has been shared widely on social media shows a group 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 number of possible offences and an investigation was launched.
On Tuesday afternoon, Martin Hockridge, 57 (21.11.63) of Harpenden, was interviewed under caution at a Hertfordshire police station.
Later the same evening, he was charged with an offence under Section 4A of the Public Order Act, namely using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour towards another person with the intention to cause them harassment, alarm or distress.
Hockridge will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 29 June.
Enquiries are ongoing to identify other people who were involved in the incident and detectives are appealing for the public’s help.
Anyone with information should call 101 or tweet @MetCC. Information can also be provided to Crimestoppers, anonymously, by calling 0800 555 111.