A woman wearing a “F*** Boris” T-shirt was stopped by British Transport Police in central London and told her clothing was against the law.
Footage uploaded to YouTube on Thursday claims the unidentified woman was leaving the Black Lives Matter protest on Wednesday when she was approached by two officers.
In the footage, filmed at Oxford Circus, the woman asks: “You think it’s illegal for me to have this T-shirt on? Based on what law?”
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One officer replies that it violates Section 5 of the Public Order Act, which states it is an offence to use “threatening words or behaviour, or disorderly behaviour” or display “any writing, sign or visible representation which is threatening” while “within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress thereby”.
The woman asks incredulously: “Why would that cause harassment? To who?”
The officer replies: “To other people. People will find that offensive.”
She then asks him to show her the law so he reads the act aloud from his mobile phone.
The woman says: “I think it’s actually invading my political right to wear whatever I want.”
The video then cuts out.
Text appears on screen claiming the woman was told to zip up her jacket “to avoid further action”. It also claims the officer “implied” she would be arrested if she did not.
The Independent has contacted the British Transport Police for comment.
