One evening, a friend and I exited a newsagent on Sydenham high street. We were greeted at the entrance to the shop by another friend who had mounted the pavement on his bicycle about 5 seconds earlier to greet us.

He said he had a feeling the police van which just passed him is about to do a u-turn and come back to stop him because they were staring at him as they drove past him going in the opposite direction.

They did the u-turn as my friend predicted and about 4 officers came out and surrounded him and 2 remained inside the van. The first officer said my friend was stopped because he was giving them "the eye" but after I challenged them another said he was stopped because he was cycling on the pavement.

One officer asked for his details and my friend asked if he is obligated to give his details. The officer replied something similar to 'just give us the details because I can make it be a long night for you'.

I had a serious large blister which became an open would and I asked the police to call an ambulance of give me a first aid kit. They refused to do so and instead helped a homeless man a few yards away from us.