THREAD: Mask clampdown on London Tube today led to two arrests on my commute. Arrest 1 at Vauxhall, man not wearing mask. I arrived part way through this one, he was lacerated on arms, clearly resisted, in huge distress. 10 officers/TfL staff on site
Arrest 2: Utterly horrific. It started with a man not wearing a mask & woman came to his aid as he got ticket. She'd apparently given him her mask (I spoke with the bloke later). It quickly escalated to full-blown violence - the woman assaulted copper & a huge incident followed 
Woman then assaulted cop first: pulled off his mask and shoved him in the face. He pushed her away with reasonable force. She flew into him. She then tried to gouge out his eye on arrest. Cop was NOT first to strike, I have given details & will be a witness. Utterly horrible
She resisted arrest & had to have her legs strapped together to stop kicking. It looks extreme, but was necessary to avoid injury to her/officers. The female officer restrained her head likewise to avoid injury to her. Reasonable force was used IMO. But >>
I'm torn on. It's easy to blame the cops, but they're just enforcing bad policy. In the second arrest, they used reasonable force. The bigger point is: surely it's time to end masks on Tubes/buses? It's insufferably hot. Masks are scientifically pointless. It's dividing society
In conclusion: I’m attending a police station 3pm tomorrow to give a statement on this second arrest. Facts are facts: the woman’s violent reaction was bang out of order. The cop was a good guy & I shook his hand. But he’s enforcing shite legislation. Over & out 🙏🏻
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