Hackney Council security guard filmed pushing protester

Footage has emerged appearing to show a Hackney Council security guard pushing an unarmed protester to the ground during a demonstration at Hackney Town Hall on August 27. The incident occurred during an occupation of the council headquarters by activists from Housing Action Southwark and Lambeth (HASL), who were protesting the overcrowded temporary accommodation provided to a local family.

The protester involved stated he “passed out for a few seconds” following the contact. Activists claim the security guard was attempting to seize items from a group trolley containing biscuits and children’s toys. HASL representatives reported that protesters and children present were “intimidated” and “shaken” by the security staff’s actions.

The demonstration was organized to advocate for Sonia Monteiro and her children, who have reportedly been placed in one-bedroom flats deemed a “category 1 hazard for crowding” under government guidance. The group noted that the family has won three previous appeals regarding their housing conditions.