Delivery couriers stage rousing protest against ‘excessive policing’ in Hackney
Demonstrators set off flares outside Hackney Town Hall. Photograph: Julia Gregory
Fed-up couriers staged a protest last night against “excessive policing” in Hackney – which they say is making it harder to earn a living.
The rally outside Hackney Town Hall ahead of the council’s annual meeting follows an incident earlier this month which saw hundreds of people take to the streets in Dalston after police attempted to arrest a delivery driver.
Police said they were working to clamp down on vehicle crime in the area.
The Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB) said couriers have also seen a “sudden spike” in the number of anti-social behaviour (ASB) fines dished out to them on Ashwin Street.
The couriers want “police to stop targeting them for immigration raids under the guise of routine vehicle checks, and that the council stop the excessive issuing of ASB notices to couriers”.
Delivery courier Mike Nguyen. Photograph: Julia Gregory
On the incident in Dalston, Hackney police said a “large crowd gathered” as people put a shout-out on social media to prevent the arrest of the man, and that several police officers were hurt and vehicles damaged. They arrested several people.
The force said its directorate of professional standards would “review any footage showing use of force” after images allegedly showing police hitting a man on the ground were published. It said “such videos rarely provide a full and accurate picture of what is taking place”.
Delivery driver Mike Nguyen said the incident was “horrible”, adding: “I’m worried that somebody will get hurt.”
It follows another incident in January when eight fast food couriers were arrested during an immigration raid in Dalston and 22 mopeds were seized on alleged insurance grounds.
That came two days after a protest by couriers over a safe and affordable place where they can wait to collect food orders from restaurants on Kingsland High Street.
The Independent Workers GB Union said it was concerned the raids were “punitive”.
Smoke flares outside @hackneycouncil as @IWGB_CLB @IWHB stage protest after police operation in Dalston “these are our streets” pic.twitter.com/V6P0YoN2Mu
— Gregory_ldr (@ldr_gregory) May 25, 2022
Last year, the couriers asked Hackney Council to find them a safe place to wait because they kept getting moved on from Ashwin Street, a narrow road near McDonald’s.
The council said they could wait at the Bentley Road car park.
Nguyen said: “The car park is not a good place to wait. People get robbed. We have to be close to the restaurants to get the orders.”
Courier Jabed Hussain, who had acid thrown at him at the corner of Queensbridge Road and Hackney Road in 2017, told the gathering: “Delivery workers work hard and deserve respect.”
He added: “Riders kept people going during the pandemic.”
He said: “Because of my face, because my face is different, that’s why I’ve been stopped 50 to 60 times. This is not fair, we are hard workers, so people should respect the workers. When it’s raining those people deliver food to your home.”
Jabed Hussain addresses fellow protesters. Photograph: Julia Gregory
Mike from Hackney Copwatch said: “These streets are our streets.”
He added: “We won’t be scared away. You can brutalise us but you can’t beat us.”
Hackney Mayor Philip Glanville said the council does not support immigration raids or the government’s hostile environment policies.
He told the annual council AGM: “They are the most vulnerable workers, they have supported the most vulnerable households in the pandemic and beyond.”
He said the council has worked to provide facilities for the couriers.
Newly elected Dalston councillor Zoe Garbett (Green) told the meeting: “As councillors, we will do all we can to make their voices heard and to affect change.”
She said the incident in Dalston was “horrendous” and came at a “very tense time in the community” about policing in the area.