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Knuckle rap for riot shield sledging coppers
YouTube snow fun vid provokes reprimand
A group of Oxfordshire coppers caught on camera using a riot shield as an improvised sledge have had their knuckles rapped by their unimpressed superintendent:
The original vid was posted on YouTube by Rick Latham, who was on Boars Hill, Oxford, on Tuesday when a group of officers approached him. He told BBC news: "I thought they were going to tell us off at first. But they had a look at the hill and two of them went down on their shields.
"They were jovial and it was nice to see officers taking time out to get involved. They were only there for a few minutes so I don't think they should be criticised."
Not so, insisted Supt Andrew Murray. While he admitted the snow had "a habit of bringing out the child in all of us", he reported: "I have spoken to the officers concerned and reminded them in no uncertain terms that tobogganing on duty, on police equipment and at taxpayers' expense is a very bad idea should they wish to progress under my command." ®