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Gym Owner Threatening Legal Action After Police Attempt To Raid Site

Gym Owner Threatening Legal Action After Police Attempt To Raid Site

He said police had ‘made a mistake’ in messing with the wrong person, and had taken a ‘step too far’

Jess Hardiman

Jess Hardiman

A gym owner in north London has shared footage of police attempting to gain access to his site - which he was using to work out in during lockdown - saying he now threatens the force with court action.

James Cooper, owner of Body Transformation in Hampstead, watched via surveillance cameras as police officers and staff from Camden Council banged on the doors of his gym.

Cooper claims that, after failing to gain access to the building, the officers moved around the back of the gym and tried to tamper with the key box.

Now he's threatening legal action, saying they've 'messed with the wrong person'.

Instagram/@jamescooperbtx

Sharing CCTV footage of the incident on his Instagram page, Cooper - who is a clinical nutritionist who studied at King's College London and is the youngest ever British-born BJJ black belt - wrote: "This is against the law and is breaking and entry. They came with 8 police on Wednesday and again today with a van.

"I employ 10 people, pay VAT, have private health care and this is what get repaid with.

"If we don't fight back the government will try and take more and more of our rights.

James Cooper.
Instagram/@jamescooperbtx

"The police have made a very big mistake and pushed too far as I'm making a formal complaint against the police and taking them to court."

Cooper, who offers personal training at www.bodytransformationlondon.com, believes business owners shouldn't have to take this 'nonsense' anymore, vowing not to sit back and allow his gym to be 'destroyed'.

Instagram/@jamescooperbtx

He told the Daily Mail: "I was at home watching them banging on my doors and trying to get in by getting access to my key box.

"I can hear them saying they don't have a warrant because my system records sound as well. I'm just not going to put up with this any more.

"What has the world come to that seven officers spend an hour of their time standing around my gym?"

In a statement provided to LADbible, the Metropolitan Police said: "Police have attended a gym in Finchley Road NW4, on a number of occasions recently to support council officers, who are engaging with the business owners in relation to the enforcement of Covid regulations."

Featured Image Credit: Credit: Instagram/@jamescooperbtx

Topics: UK News, News, Gym