Whitty may be offered police protection after public harassment
Police have launched an investigation to find two men caught on video harassing England’s chief medical officer Chris Whitty.
The video, caught on a mobile phone, shows Whitty being grabbed by men in a park in London as the chief medical officer (CMO) attempts to cross the road.
Home Secretary Priti Patel branded the harassment of CMO Whitty “appalling” and suggested he might be offered police protection.
“It’s important we give him the right support,” she told Times Radio.
Prime minister Boris Johnson also condemned the behaviour, saying: “I’m shocked at seeing the despicable harassment of chief medical officer Chris Whitty.
“I condemn the behaviour of these thugs. Our hard-working public servants should not have to face this kind of intimidation on our streets and we will not tolerate it.”
The footage circulated social media late last night and prompted responses from other politicians like the new health secretary Sajid Javid and vaccine minister Nadhim Zahwai.
In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said: “We’re aware of a video being shared online showing an incident in St James’s Park.
“Officers spoke to all those involved at the time and their details were taken.
“We are in contact with the victim and the circumstances continue to be investigated.”
It is the second time video footage has been caught of the chief medical officer being harassed in public.
In February, Whitty was verbally harassed while walking near Westminster by a TikTok user who accused him of “lying” about Covid-19 cases.
Whitty said the “young lad” who verbally abused him in the street will hopefully “become a model citizen in due course”.