Police launch criminal investigation into video of woman’s racist rant against Birmingham pub bouncer

 A criminal investigation has been launched after a video of a woman racially abusing a pub bouncer was posted online.

West Midlands Police said they are aware of footage “showing a woman directing racist abuse at a member of door staff” in Birmingham’s Broad Street nightclub district over the weekend.

The 25-second clip, shared tens of thousands of times on Twitter, shows a woman hurling foul-mouthed abuse at a doorman outside Wetherspoon’s Figure of Eight pub on Saturday night. In a statement, Chief Inspector James Spencer said: “We’re aware of a video showing a woman directing racist abuse at a member of door staff in Broad Street over the weekend.

“It’s been crimed as a racially aggravated harassment offence and we are investigating. It’s an awful incident and people are understandably disgusted.”

Spencer added that the force were “prioritising the investigation”.

“Officers have been working hard with local businesses to make the city a safe and enjoyable place to visit,” he said. “Racist behaviour is completely unacceptable.”

The footage, posted by the bouncer involved, shows the woman spitting in his direction as she walks away while shouting racist insults. 

In a post on Twitter, the doorman said: “I haven’t been doing security for years like some, but in the short time I’ve been doing it I’ve seen and been through pretty much anything there is to see and go through whilst doing the job.

“This however, is something I, or anyone who looks like me shouldn’t have to go through. There was a time I’d go through things like this and brush it under the carpet but [those] times are over.” A Wetherspoons spokesperson said: “We can confirm the incident took place outside the pub on Saturday night. The woman in question had been ejected for her behaviour.

“She spat her drink towards the member of door staff and also racially abused him. She also caused issues as she was leaving.”

The spokesperson added: “This behaviour is completely unacceptable and the woman is barred for life. We will also be pursuing her for criminal damage and passing on the CCTV and bodycam footage to the police.”

In a further development, boiler and heating appliance manufacturer Worcester Bosch issued a statement after several social media users linked the incident to an employee working for the company.

The Worcestershire firm said: “We are aware of a video that is currently circulating online, involving a woman who claims she works for our company.

“At the moment we are unsure if this person does work for us but rest assured if this is the case we take a zero tolerance approach to racism in any form and this matter will be dealt with, with the utmost urgency and seriousness.”

Sharon Thompson, councillor for Birmingham City Council, said: “I was appalled to see such unacceptable racist behaviour directed towards the security operative.

“There is no place for racism in society and especially not this city. All too often security operatives are subject to this type of behaviour when they are simply trying to look out for others and maintain a safe environment.

“What we saw in the video was a racist hate crime..I applaud [the doorman] for maintaining his composure throughout.”