The Coop

A Sussex Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) was shown refusing to respond to an alleged assault in a supermarket, in a video posted on TikTok.

The video shows A Man telling The Officer about a fight in the Co-op store in Lancing which had been reported to The Police .

The PCSO said: " I'm not a response unit. "

Sussex Police said it had launched an investigation.

The Man who was filmed in conversation with the PCSO said members of The Public were trying to stop a shoplifter.

He Said to the PCSO: " You need to get round to the Co-op. There's just been a fight round there, because people are trying to stop the shoplifter that you're doing nothing about. "

He Said : " People have called The Police and you're sitting here. "

The Officer responded: " I'm not a response unit unfortunately. "

The Man said The Sight of The Police car would " make them scatter".

The Officer replied: " Yeah, but then I have to deal with it.

" That's why I'm here and not round there. "

In a statement, Sussex Police said: " We Are aware of video footage of a single-crewed Police Community Support Officer being approached by a member of The Public to report an incident in Lancing.

" The Matter was reported to us and a Police Officer attended The Incident as an emergency. The PCSO also then attended The Scene . "

Supt Nick Dias said: " We Are sorry for the clumsy language used by the PCSO in this exchange and acknowledge The Public 's concern. A police unit was dispatched to The Scene as a matter of priority. Our response to this incident is being reviewed. "

Katy Bourne , Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner, said she shared " The Public 's disappointment and understandable concern" with the video.

" A member of The Public sent me the video and I immediately shared it with The Chief Constable who referred The Incident to the Sussex professional standards department. "

She added: " This is not the sort of response that I would expect and The Public deserve. "

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Source of news: bbc.com