Police investigating after Chris Whitty allegedly harassed in park

ealth Secretary Sajid Javid has condemned video footage which appears to show Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty being harassed by a pair of thugs at St James’s Park.

Prof Whitty is seen allegedly being manhandled by the two men who put their arms around him as he tries to duck away. He looks uncomfortable as the grinning duo chant “oi oi” and say “one photo please?”

Mr Javid said: “I’ve seen the video of the CMO being harassed. It’s appalling and totally unacceptable. The CMO works tirelessly on behalf of the country. We will not tolerate this sort of behaviour towards our public servants. The men behaving in this disgraceful way should be ashamed.”

“This is disgusting and these thugs must be found and charged. Zero tolerance for harassing a public servant,” he said.

As Prof Whitty tries to walk away, the men seem to grab him again. With a line of police vans visible in the background, a voice is heard saying “leave the gentleman alone” before the video ends.

Police are investigating after the 20-second clip was shared on social media.

Metropolitan Police tweeted: “We are 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.”

The widely-shared footage has sparked a heated reaction, with a number of MPs swift to condemn those involved and some figures calling for police protection for key scientific advisers during the pandemic.

Labour MP Jess Phillips said Prof Whitty had been made to feel “awful and uncomfortable” and issued a reminder that public figures “are human beings”.

Actor and TV and radio presenter Adil Ray said it was “an utterly disgusting way to treat a person who has devoted his time to save our lives”.

Former chief prosecutor Nazir Afzal called for protection for Prof Whitty and other scientists advising the government over pandemic-fighting measures.

“I know that if he was the statue of someone with a dubious past, he would have a dozen strong security detail,” Mr Afzal tweeted. “This is just the latest incident of harassment involving the Chief Medical Advisor.”

And TV news presenter Simon McCoy tweeted: “This is a complete disgrace. Chris Whitty should be protected from idiots like these.”

It is not the first time Prof Whitty has been forced to endure public harassment.

Earlier this month, he was confronted in a street in Oxford by a man accusing him of lying to the public about coronavirus, while in February a man accosted the chief medical officer outside Westminster.