I thought I would let you know about this case as I am sure you will be interested.
Cycling back home along Shoreditch High Street in Hackney on the evening of 8th Feb, I heard a car hoot impatiently behind me and figured a car could not get past cyclists as is very common! Next thing two cyclists overtook me followed by a black cab. As the cabbie overtook I saw him swerve towards the two cyclists missing them by inches before he then sped off. My conjecture was that he had not been able to get past them earlier and was getting his own back. I was shocked and started taking the cab's number, but then saw the cyclists sprinting after him.
<detailed description of incident snipped due to pending court case>
The cyclists happened to be black and cycle couriers. On the scale of confrontations I have seen between cyclists and drivers, this was comparatively minor - there was no banging on the cab side or roof, no fists in the air - just loud arguing.
Anyway, the cyclists were banged up in the cells for the whole night and have been charged with threatening behaviour under section 5 of some public order act. I mentioned the incident on the Hackney Cyclist's list and another cyclist organised a lawyer for them so hopefully they will be legally represented. I am in touch with them - but I cannot get too involved with the couriers as I am their witness.
I have heard their court case is on the 4th March, though I have not been called as a witness so far. I seem to be the only defence witness and I have made a statement to the police.
I think this should be publicised and the couriers should get some support as it must have been a big shock for them. Not only are they beeped at when a big cab wants to get past, they get swerved at and when they stand up for themselves by confronting the driver, they get manhandled and violently arrested by the police, locked up in the cells all night and then charged with threatening behaviour while the cabbie goes scot-free.
I bumped into Mark last night in Bow and he explained what happened that night.He has had a massive stroke of bad luck and is up in court next week.From what he was saying the Old Bill have been a right bunch of cnuts in all of this.