The man with Parkinson’s disease who was arrested during the Olympics men’s cycling road race while sitting beside the route has said that he wanted a ‘letter of exoneration’ form Surrey police claiming that he was treated disproportionately.
Mark Worsfold, 54, said that he was handcuffed by Surrey police officers 'for not smiling' while watching men's cycling road race
A former soldier and martial arts instructor Mr Worsfold was arrested on 28 July for a breach of the peace shortly before the cyclists arrived in Redhouse Park, Leatherhead, where he had sat down on a wall to watch the race. Officers from Surrey police restrained and handcuffed him and took him to Reigate police station, saying his behaviour had "caused concern".
He was sitting close to a small group of protestors and basing on the manner, his state of dress and his proximity to the course the officers arrested him to prevent a possible breach of the peace. The Surrey police had stated in a statement.
His unsmiling face made the police question him about his demeanor and why visibly he was not enjoying the event. But Worsfold who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2010 had a situation where his muscles were rigid affecting his face. He was released after two hours without charge or caution.
Mr Worsfold said that things could have been handled better. He was arrested for not smiling as he had Parkinson and he realised that the officers were working long hours and trying to control the events but they had overreacted in his case he said.
He said he did not want to make further comment until he received a response from Surrey police.
Worsfold, who teaches martial arts in Leatherhead, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro last February for the Save the Rhino charity.
Surrey police said that there were a number of factors leading to his arrest, including the high profile nature of the event and heightened level of security due to the sheer number of spectators present. These were fully explained to the individual concerned. He was given words of advice and released with no further action.
Chief Superintendent Gavin Stephens said that the officers were policing huge numbers of people during the Olympic events and in the interests of public safety they acted quickly and decisively based on the information available to them.
Campaigners, however, said the incident was example of the kind of "chronic misunderstandings" people with Parkinson's have to deal with regularly. Sadly Mark's experience highlights the lack of understanding and compassion that many people currently living with Parkinson's have to deal with every day," said Laura Bowey, head of information and support at Parkinson's UK.