A COPPER was slammed by viewers after he was caught on live TV fooling around with his hat at the scene of yesterday's terror attack in Streatham.

The uniformed officer could be seen trying to flick his hat from the back of his head and catch it behind his back in the news footage.

Further humiliation was added when his own colleagues uploaded the footage to a Facebook page dedicated to amusing police matters.

The video was captioned on UK Cop Humour said: “When you've been in the Job for three weeks (complete guess ) and decide to demonstrate how "I bet you I can catch my flat cap behind my back – watch!" skills… live on TV at the cordon of a terrorist attack.”

The camera quickly cuts to another frame, showing a quiet street with a car parked before flicking back to the police officer – who was still playing with his hat.

One member wrote: “I’m the first to have a laugh….I think is highly unprofessional given the circumstances. Not only that…if there was ever a something forensically questioned at the scene etc…and that was shown to the courts…doesn’t really show you’ve been diligent guarding that scene which would leave it open to so much scrutiny.”

Another person wrote: “This is embarrassing, unprofessional and disrespectful to the enormity of what has gone on at this scene.

“I love a laugh but time and place totally inappropriate. At a road closure in the countryside – all day long.

“Scene of a terror related multiple stabbing and fatal shooting, cameras everywhere – no. Not even close.

'HIGHLY UNPROFESSIONAL'

“Worrying what else this lad thinks is acceptable.”

Anthony added: “I feel sorry for him. We've probably all done something silly in hindsight (especially on scene guard when you're bored – let's not go there!) but it's usually not caught on live TV! He's gonna get a new one ripped in the morning.

“There but for the grace of God…”

Others stuck up for the officer.

But another serving cop added: “I’m sorry to disagree with the many, but I’m not laughing.

“I agree we are humans/not robots and the rest, there is a time and a place and at the scene of a recent MTA is not it.

“Experienced or not, you would be made well aware the worlds press are there and watching.

“Yes cordons are dull. We’ve all been there! However this sort of cordon needs the upmost professionalism, and this isn’t it. I’d like to think most serving officers would agree.”

Yesterday, Sudesh Amman, an ISIS fanatic who had just been released from prison, was shot dead by armed police after he went on a bloody rampage with a stolen 10-inch knife in Streatham.

After strapping a fake bomb to his body, Amman attacked shoppers at about 2pm on Streatham High Road, stabbing a man and a woman.

A third person suffered minor injuries caused by shattered glass when cops opened fire.

Amman was under MI5 surveillance at the time of the attack by police, who shot him dead.

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