What happens when a police officer gets the law completely wrong?
In this video, a UK police sergeant is seen threatening to arrest a driver at a petrol station pump. The issue? The driver filled his car with £60 of diesel and attempted to pay using a genuine, Royal Mint-issued £100 silver commemorative coin. The supermarket staff refused to accept the coin and called the police, leading to the dramatic stand-off caught on camera.
Is it legal? Here is the actual law:
The answer is both yes and no, depending on who you look at:
Could the shop refuse the coin? Generally, yes. While the coin is technically "legal tender" under the Coinage Act 1971, contract law allows a private business to decide which payment methods they prefer. However, because the fuel was already inside the car, a debt had been created. Legally, a business cannot "pick and choose" payment methods after the fact unless they clearly state their exclusions on the pump before you fill up.
Was it a criminal offence? Absolutely NOT. The officer arrested the driver for "Making Off Without Payment" (Theft Act 1978). To commit this crime, a person must dishonestly run away to avoid paying the bill. The driver wasn't running, hiding, or acting dishonestly—he was standing right there actively trying to hand over cash worth more than the fuel!
The Result: Because the police treated a civil contract dispute as a criminal theft, the arrest was entirely unlawful. The driver later took legal action against the police force, winning a formal apology and a £5,000 settlement.