Jogging border supremo runs into trouble – and makes a citizen’s arrest
HE IS the tough police chief personally drafted in by Home Secretary Theresa May to make sure that Britain’s borders are safe in the run-up to the Olympic Games.
But last week Brian Moore, who has been seconded from his job as Chief Constable of Wiltshire to take over as head of the UK Border Force, had to deal with law and order matters much closer to home.
As he jogged in Hendon, North London, Mr Moore detained a youth for allegedly smashing a car window – but was then attacked.
While marathon runner Mr Moore, 52, grappled with the 19-year-old, a second youth, aged 17, intervened to try to prevent the officer from making a citizen’s arrest.
Despite attempts by the teenagers to escape, the off-duty chief held on to them until reinforcements arrived.
Mr Moore, who is paid £133,000 a year, suffered cuts and bruises to his face in the scuffle before Metropolitan Police officers – who had been helping to control hundreds of proIsraeli and pro-Palestinian demonstrators – came to his aid and formally arrested the suspects.
The presence of Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who was making a speech at a nearby hotel, had sparked the demonstration.
It is understood that Mr Moore, who earlier in the day had been grilled by MPs on the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee over airport passport control queues, completed his run on Tuesday evening after the youths were taken in for questioning.
A friend said: ‘Brian is still a serving police officer and holds a warrant card, although because he was off-duty this was technically a citizen’s arrest.
‘Brian is one of those coppers who is never off-duty. He is a very fit marathon runner and was a decent footballer in his youth. He was out having a relaxing run after a gruelling day at the Commons. When he saw something untoward going on, his police training kicked in and he took action.’
Mr Moore is seen as a hardliner, much in the mould of Scotland Yard Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe. Two years ago, he said he wanted thugs who beat their partners to be named and shamed. Mr Moore, who is married and has two sons, was Chief Constable of Wiltshire from 2008 until March.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said the pair detained by Mr Moore had been arrested on suspicion of affray and bailed until July.
Mr Moore declined to comment.