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Jogger in PM security alert had 'no idea' what happened | Jogger in PM security alert had 'no idea' what happened |
(35 minutes later) | |
A member of the public who caused a security alert when he bumped into David Cameron in Leeds has said he had "no idea" it was the prime minister. | A member of the public who caused a security alert when he bumped into David Cameron in Leeds has said he had "no idea" it was the prime minister. |
Dean Farley said he was only aware that he had collided with Mr Cameron an hour after he had been arrested by police. | Dean Farley said he was only aware that he had collided with Mr Cameron an hour after he had been arrested by police. |
He insisted he was "not particularly political" and was just going out on his daily lunchtime jog to the gym when he ran into a "bunch of men in suits". | |
Mr Cameron has downplayed the incident, now the subject of a police review. | Mr Cameron has downplayed the incident, now the subject of a police review. |
Mr Cameron was quickly driven away from the scene after the encounter outside the Civic Hall in Leeds. | Mr Cameron was quickly driven away from the scene after the encounter outside the Civic Hall in Leeds. |
West Yorkshire Police said "nothing sinister" had taken place but the Metropolitan Police, which provides personal security for the prime minister, said there would be a review of the incident. | West Yorkshire Police said "nothing sinister" had taken place but the Metropolitan Police, which provides personal security for the prime minister, said there would be a review of the incident. |
The prime minister was in Leeds to launch government plans to upgrade rail links in the north of England. | The prime minister was in Leeds to launch government plans to upgrade rail links in the north of England. |
A member of Mr Cameron's security team intervened as a man appeared to dart towards the prime minister. Officers then bundled the man away as the prime minister got into a waiting vehicle. | A member of Mr Cameron's security team intervened as a man appeared to dart towards the prime minister. Officers then bundled the man away as the prime minister got into a waiting vehicle. |
'Funny side' | |
Mr Farley later revealed himself to be the man at the centre of the incident, saying he was not a protester and was totally unaware the prime minister was visiting the city. | |
"I didn't see David Cameron. I didn't know it was David Cameron until they let me out of the police van an hour later," Mr Farley, who was eventually released without charge, said. | |
The 28-year old said he was on the way to his local gym for a session with his personal trainer when he crossed the road outside the council building. | |
"All I saw were a group of men in suits who came out of the Civic Hall." | |
He added: "It begs the question - how good is Cameron's security if I managed to run between it before they stopped me?" | |
Mr Farley, who was carrying a towel but no ID at the time, said it had been "harrowing" to find himself "harangued and manhandled" by police and not being told why he had been arrested. | |
"I'm quite shook up. I was almost in shock, like I'd been in an accident or something." | |
The media reaction to the incident had been "insane", he said, adding that many of his friends wanted to buy him a drink and he could see the "funny side". | |
"I kind of wish I had been protesting something or I had had something to say", he added. | |
'No threats' | 'No threats' |
Following the incident, Chief Inspector Derek Hughes of West Yorkshire Police said: ''Around midday, a 28-year-old local man was briefly arrested after he came close to the prime minister's group who had just left the Civic Hall in Leeds. | |
''No threats were made, and after the man's details were checked, he was de-arrested and allowed on his way.'' | ''No threats were made, and after the man's details were checked, he was de-arrested and allowed on his way.'' |
The BBC's Tom Symonds said a member of Mr Cameron's party told him the prime minister stepped back as the man ran towards him and was not in contact with him. | The BBC's Tom Symonds said a member of Mr Cameron's party told him the prime minister stepped back as the man ran towards him and was not in contact with him. |
The prime minister's close security is generally provided by officers from SO1 Specialist Protection, part of the Metropolitan Police's Protection Command. | The prime minister's close security is generally provided by officers from SO1 Specialist Protection, part of the Metropolitan Police's Protection Command. |
Labour MP Keith Vaz said he would be "astonished" if there was not a review of procedures. | Labour MP Keith Vaz said he would be "astonished" if there was not a review of procedures. |
"It could have ended in a completely different scenario," he told Sky News, adding that Mr Farley's actions had caused a "great deal of concern". | "It could have ended in a completely different scenario," he told Sky News, adding that Mr Farley's actions had caused a "great deal of concern". |
'Prescott punch' | 'Prescott punch' |
But former Met officer Peter Power said that although "questions would be asked" about the incident, it was "not catastrophic" and was unlikely to lead to major changes. | |
He told BBC News that the fact that the man had been taken away so quickly showed the police response "worked reasonably well". | |
But former Deputy Prime Minister Lord Prescott, who punched a protester during the 2001 general election campaign after being hit by an egg, said the episode proved that security around top politicians needed to be "tightened up". | |
And speaking during a parliamentary statement on last week's EU summit, Mr Cameron jokingly made reference to the so-called "Prescott punch". | |
"I was actually in a meeting in Leeds speaking to a group of city leaders and other politicians and John Prescott was in the room as I gave the speech," he told MPs. | "I was actually in a meeting in Leeds speaking to a group of city leaders and other politicians and John Prescott was in the room as I gave the speech," he told MPs. |
"And as I left the room I thought the moment of maximum danger had probably passed but clearly that wasn't the case." | "And as I left the room I thought the moment of maximum danger had probably passed but clearly that wasn't the case." |
Mr Cameron said he wanted to put on record the "debt" he owed to those who protect him on a daily basis, saying they did a "very good job". | Mr Cameron said he wanted to put on record the "debt" he owed to those who protect him on a daily basis, saying they did a "very good job". |
It comes less than a week after a man threw a bag of marbles at the glass screen which separates the public from MPs in the House of Commons. | It comes less than a week after a man threw a bag of marbles at the glass screen which separates the public from MPs in the House of Commons. |
That incident took place during Prime Minister's Questions. | That incident took place during Prime Minister's Questions. |