Arrest after racist abuse outside Birmingham Wetherspoon caught on camera
A woman has been arrested after a pub doorman was racially abused and spat at outside a Wetherspoon bar.
Police launched an investigation after a video of the racist abuse went viral on social media, with one clip viewed nearly three million times in less than 24 hours.
In the footage a woman can be seen arguing with security worker Tristan Price before shoving him, abusing him, using several racist slurs and spitting at him as she walks away.
The abusive customer was also said to have damaged the glass front door of The Figure of Eight pub in Broad Street which she had been ejected from before abusing the bouncer.
A 24-year-old woman from Worcester was arrested on suspicion of racially abusing the pub doorman at 1pm on Monday after handing herself in at a police station.
It is alleged she used racist language towards the member of security staff outside the pub at some time between 10pm and 11.30pm.
She is also accused of racially abusing another man who was stood near the pub entrance and earlier damaging furniture inside the premises.
She remained in police custody for questioning on Monday evening.
Mr Price shared the video on Instagram, writing: "I’ve seen and been through pretty much anything there is to see and go through whilst doing the job. This however, is something I, or anyone who looks like me shouldn’t have to go through. There was a time I’d go through things like this and brush it under the carpet but them times are over. Share and find out who this is."
Birmingham Police Chief Inspector James Spencer, said: "It’s an awful incident and people are understandably disgusted. We said we would prioritise the investigation and that’s now led to the swift arrest of a suspect.
"Our city centre police teams have been working hard with local businesses to make the city a safe and enjoyable place to visit. Racist behaviour is completely unacceptable and we are taking this report very seriously.
“We are still in the process of trying to contact the victim and we would urge him to get in touch as soon as possible so we can take a statement."
A spokesman for J D Wetherspoon confirmed the woman responsible would be banned from the premises, while the general manager of the business district said she would be barred from all city centre venues for life.
Regional Wetherspoon manager Heath Curley said: “The woman had been in the pub, but we didn’t like her behaviour so she was asked to leave.
“As she was being escorted outside she knocked over furniture, including chairs. Once outside, the doorman closed the door but the woman began kicking the door and cracked the glass.
“She then subjected him to racial abuse as can be seen on the video.”
Mr Curley praised the actions of Mr Price, who is employed by an outside agency and works regularly on Broad Street.
He said: “All credit to the doorman, who acted very calmly. He’s a very nice fellow and this was certainly something he shouldn’t be exposed to.
“We have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to racist abuse against any of our staff and are treating this incident very, very seriously.
“This behaviour is completely unacceptable and this woman will not be welcome in any Wetherspoon pubs in the city centre again.”
Mike Olley, general manager of Westside BID, said: “This shocking behaviour has been reported to the police and will land this young lady in a lot of hot water with the authorities.
“As well as Wetherspoon ban, we will also be seeking for her to be banned for life from all city centre venues. We will be reporting the incident to all other city centre BIDs and to the city’s Pub Watch group, as we simply do not want and will not tolerate someone who exhibits this abhorrent sort of behaviour.”
Mr Olley added: “While incidents like this are rare, what I would like to highlight is the exceptional calm shown by the doorman concerned who, despite being racially abused and spat at, kept his head and did not react.”
