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A suited man who was filmed headbutting a commuter following a row on a train was an off-duty police officer.

Footage emerged earlier today of the pair having a dispute on a packed C2C train, which was believed to be travelling from London to Southend-on-Sea, on Thursday.

But another video has since been shared on social media, showing the suited man who attacked the passenger, restraining him and cuffing him on a train station platform.

Met Police confirmed to Metro.co.uk that the man is in fact an off-duty officer for the force.


A spokesman said the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards reviewed the video and are ‘satisfied that there is no indication that the officer committed a criminal offence, nor that he behaved in a manner that would justify disciplinary proceedings’.



The second video, filmed by a passenger inside a train, shows the bearded commuter being restrained by three people on a bench.

He tries to resist and shouts before he is held to the floor and appears to be cuffed by the off-duty officer.

A video later showed the commuter being arrested on a train platform

Met Police confirmed he was an off-duty officer for the force

A man has been charged with threatening behaviour with intent to cause fear of unlawful violence in relation to this incident, said British Transport Police.

Earlier today the force said it had received reports of a man, 29, making violent threats to passengers on the train, before he was arrested at Upminster station.

The first set of footage filmed on the train shows the Met officer engaged in an inaudible heated argument with the bearded commuter.

He can be heard saying, ‘look at me I’m stupid! Look at me I’m stupid,’ as the officer appears to grab his wrists to restrain him.

The official then violently headbutts him and sends him crashing behind, startling fellow passengers.

Witnesses can be heard gasping, cheering and laughing in the background before the video cuts out.

According to reports on social media, a witness claims the bearded man was shouting abuse and trying to fight other passengers.

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A passenger filmed the scene on the train (Picture: News Dog Media)

The officer is seen violently headbutting the commuter (Picture: News Dog Media)

A Met Police spokesperson said: ‘We are aware of social media footage showing an off-duty Met officer on a mainline train on the afternoon of Thursday, 3 October.

‘The footage on social media is a limited capture of the incident, which is believed to have lasted in excess of 20 minutes.

‘The Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards have reviewed the video and the details surrounding the incident and are satisfied that there is no indication that the officer committed a criminal offence, nor that he behaved in a manner that would justify disciplinary proceedings.

‘At this stage no complaints have been received and so no further action will be taken.’

A British Transport Police spokesman said: ‘British Transport Police received a report at 3.35pm on October 3 of a man fighting and making violent threats to passengers on board a train.

‘He was restrained onboard the service and arrested when it arrived at Upminster station.

‘Following a search, the man, aged 29, was further arrested on suspicion of carrying a knife and theft by finding. He remains in custody.’

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