Eric Joyce charged charged over alleged assault

FALKIRK MP Eric Joyce has been charged with two counts of common assault and one count of criminal damage, the police have confirmed.

The charges against the politician relate to an incident in the Camden area of London on 17 October, Metropolitan Police said.

Former Labour MP, Mr Joyce, who now sits as an independent, has insisted that he was only trying to detain a young vandal during the alleged incident and made clear that he did not feel he was “in the wrong”.

Mr Joyce was at a convenience store in the area when he allegedly got into a fight with two teenage boys. At the time, he was arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm.

One teenager was also arrested at the scene for alleged possession of cannabis.

Mr Joyce, who is a former Labour frontbencher at Westminster, released a statement at the time regarding the alleged incident.

Writing on his blog following his arrest in October, former Army major Mr Joyce said: “I detained a youth in a shop in London. Damage had been done to the store.

“I asked the shopkeeper to call the police, and when officers arrived they arrested the youth and informed me that drugs had been recovered from the scene.

“The officers also informed me that the youth had immediately made a complaint that I had assaulted him by detaining him. I was questioned by the police and told that because of my identity the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the Metropolitan Police Press Office would be informed of the incident.

“I understand the Metropolitan Police has now made the matter public. I will make no further comment for now, other than to say a) that no alcohol was involved and b) I am not in the habit of summoning the police if I feel that I am in the wrong.”

Mr Joyce, in a statement, added: “I was questioned by the police and told that because of my identity the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the Metropolitan Police Press Office would be informed of the incident.”