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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Driver 'forced by Essex Police to remove Brexit slogan' | Driver 'forced by Essex Police to remove Brexit slogan' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Two anti-Brexit campaigners say they were pulled over on to the hard shoulder of the M25 and told by police to remove a slogan from their car. | |
| Passenger Peter Cook said the officer was "extremely aggressive" towards them over the phrase "bollocks to Brexit". | Passenger Peter Cook said the officer was "extremely aggressive" towards them over the phrase "bollocks to Brexit". |
| "He said it [the slogan] was a public order offence, he insisted we remove the signage on the hard shoulder of the M25," said Mr Cook. | "He said it [the slogan] was a public order offence, he insisted we remove the signage on the hard shoulder of the M25," said Mr Cook. |
| Essex Police said the force was trying to establish what happened. | Essex Police said the force was trying to establish what happened. |
| Mr Cook said the officer stopped them on the motorway near Brentwood at 14:30 GMT on Sunday. | Mr Cook said the officer stopped them on the motorway near Brentwood at 14:30 GMT on Sunday. |
| He said the policeman repeatedly shouted at him and the driver during the 40 minutes they were pulled over and "bullied" them into removing part of the slogan. | He said the policeman repeatedly shouted at him and the driver during the 40 minutes they were pulled over and "bullied" them into removing part of the slogan. |
| The car was eventually moved to Brentwood Services after Mr Cook called 999 over fears for his safety at the roadside. | The car was eventually moved to Brentwood Services after Mr Cook called 999 over fears for his safety at the roadside. |
| Some of the wording was then removed before the officer told the pair he would allow them to leave without further action being taken. | Some of the wording was then removed before the officer told the pair he would allow them to leave without further action being taken. |
| Mr Cook said the policeman had been "bang out of order" and that a complaint would be made to the police watchdog. | Mr Cook said the policeman had been "bang out of order" and that a complaint would be made to the police watchdog. |
| The Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) has been contacted for comment. | The Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) has been contacted for comment. |
| An Essex Police spokeswoman said: "We are trying to identify the officer from the video footage to establish the circumstances around what happened. | An Essex Police spokeswoman said: "We are trying to identify the officer from the video footage to establish the circumstances around what happened. |
| "In the meantime, we would encourage the driver to get in touch with us." | "In the meantime, we would encourage the driver to get in touch with us." |
| In November 1977, Nottingham Magistrates' Court ruled "bollocks" was not an obscene word in the case of a record store manager who had been arrested for displaying the Sex Pistols' debut album Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols. |