The arrest of a man on suspicion of assaulting a cyclist is a clear example of YouTube and the blogosphere helping to solve crime
Many dream of 15 minutes of fame, but 29-year-old John Nicholls is probably wishing he could have foregone his. A motorist was caught on camera physically attacking a cyclist, punching him in the head. Once posted on YouTube - with a plea for help with identification - the video went viral and clocked up almost 150,000 hits. On Thursday Nicholls went with his lawyer to Dartford police station where he was arrested on suspicion of assault.
The victim, Simon Page, a 49-year-old lawyer, was one of seven cyclists riding from Dover to London in training for a charity ride. Page and his fellow riders reported the incident to the police as soon as it happened in May. Six weeks later, the police had failed to make an arrest despite having clear photographs of the assailant and the numberplate. The cyclists decided to try and identify him themselves. One of his fellow riders, having consulted the police, posted footage of the violent attack filmed with his headcam on YouTube.
The footage flew around the blogosphere, the BBC ran a news item on it.
It's a clear incidence of YouTube and the blogosphere helping the police to solve crime. Under the video the cyclists have now posted this statement: "Thanks to a powerful combination of clear video evidence and viral internet publicity [a] man [has been arrested]. Thanks to everyone who assisted in spreading this clip, which in four days has led to the apprehension of [a suspect]. Result!"
One of the cyclists in the group saidthe driver was trying to overtake at a point where the road had been narrowed. "The other interesting thing is that the traffic calming measures that they put in are the thing that caused the incident. If they hadn't been there the incident wouldn't have happened."
Cycling campaigners have pointed out that drivers really have little choice other than to get used to cyclists being on the road as cycling is increasing dramatically at least in some parts of the country.
Mike Cavenett from the London Cycling Campaign said: "An assault is an assault wherever the victim is, and the police should do all they can tackle violent crime. It's totally unacceptable to have people punching others, and we hope the police vigorously press charges against this man."
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Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/bike-blog/2011/jul/15/cyclist-youtube-alleged-attack
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