Youth on bicyle manhandled to ground by Olympic Torch security

Also this:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-16726409

My wife is gutted that we don't have any olympic tickets, so at least wanted to see the torch parade. We were therefore on Deansgate in Manchester for Chris Hoy to run past.

Prior to his arrival, the Police outriders moved through slowly, and it made me smile to watch them play a PR blinder. These guys never seem happy, but they high fived and shook hands with all the kids, all smiles and relaxed, with the bottom half of the helmets raised so their faces were visible. The last rider was badged as an Inspector, and I have no doubt he had issued strict instructions to make friends.

So then the guys in the grey PE kits pass us. These guys are on camera, and all have Police ID in a holder on their upper arms (bit like an iphone holder with a transparent front). Chris passed us and stopped just a few feet away to hand over to the next runner. While the handover took place, there were people everywhere, the runners & torch were nearly swamped by photographers (pro and amateur), and all the vehicles were stationary for a few minutes. My wife leaned past the front of the following coach to get a picture and was shouted at by a WPC who leaned out of the coach door to "get out of the way before she was run over".

My missus may have been nearest to the coach, but believe me, the number of photographers wrestling with monster lenses etc in the road meant no-one was going anywhere until the torch was itself moved down the street. The officer did appear to be a bit over-zealous.

This puts the behaviour of the Chinese "security" bods in London last time into perspective.

Remember all the hoo-hah? We can do violent and illegal policing just as well as those nasty Chinese.

Is there any more of this footage; more of before the incident? Looks like he was just trying to ride alongside?

Total over-reaction by the security and if the kid had been injured, I expect his parents would have a very strong case to sue. I know if one of my BMX riding kids was dealt with in a similar fashion, I'd want to stick up for them. A simple 'Scuse me son' and guiding him away would've been sufficient. He was a young lad on a BMX. Any security person with an IQ over 90 would realise that the lad would not pose a genuine threat. I'd say that unjustified action the guard carried out is actually an assault on a child. If the security guard does not get charged he'll be lucky. In the words of Stan Lee' With power comes responsbility' and that action wasn't in any way responsible.

It's a total farce. I just hope the momentary halt caused a 19 vehicle shunt with all the silly entourage vehicles behind it. And for the record the 'man' was a kid, and looked in far better shape than the torch carrier!! What a hopelessly orchestrated affair the entire 'torch' parade has been. Nothing more than a corporate exercise in decadence and disgrace. I just hope the games deliver something we can be proud of.

It's my job to keep kids safe. I teach outdoor education. If I kept a kid 'Safe' like that I'd end up in court. Why is it different for this guy?

Another example of nowasp's 'hired thugs' here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18671509

Perhaps this puts things in context?

Hired thugs, itching for an opportunity to lash out.

Shameful.

This is ridiculous. The little lad was just riding along watching the torch-carrier. Just as well he wasn't smoking a pretend fag.

Typical heavy-handed British Plod. Why don't they use these tactics on a few motorised ASL-invaders and mobile phone users?

Seems fair enough to me. It's a clear 'don't go here' area, someone went there, they were safely and promptly removed. The fact he was on a bike makes no difference.

Ah, the Met. Always sensitive and acting appropriately in a crowd... Policeman clearly bored, or the steroids were kicking in.