'Knocking people off bikes is potentially very dangerous': Diane Abbott faces furious backlash after she criticises Scotland Yard's tac

Police have hit back at Labour's Diane Abbott after she criticised the Met for knocking moped yobs off their bikes.

Scotland Yard was praised by Londoners last week after it released footage of its new 'tactical contact' method of catching scooter criminals.

Detectives explained they only use the technique - which involves tipping thieves onto the ground by driving into their bikes - when the riders become a danger to the public.

But Shadow Home Secretary Ms Abbott, who will be in charge of policing if Labour win the next election, was unimpressed by the footage.

Londoners also defended the police's new methods and accused Ms Abbott of being 'on the side of criminals'.

Charlie Mullins, head of Pimlico Plumbers, wrote: 'It is also dangerous when these moped thieves rob people. Let's hope when they get knocked off the mopeds they never get on them again, Diana Abbott you need to get a proper job.'

A Twitter user who had witnessed one of the crimes, added: 'Sorry Diane, you're wrong on this one. I've seen them mount the pavement to rob people while wearing bandanas and no helmets. They're a nuisance and they're breaking the law. If they don't stop when requested to by the law then they'll have to be stopped forcibly!'

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She's a bit of a moron, that one.