A Stratford Nando's waitress who was smacked with a plate in a viral CCTV video has said she feels "grossly let down" by police. 

University student and part-time Nando's waitress Zahra has shared a TikTok video posted to her account @zahra_etc detailing her side of the story. 

The CCTV footage shows the moment she was smacked to the head with a plate whilst serving a table in March.

Zahra claimed on TikTok that the incident unfolded over a high chair, something she also told the BBC.

She said the couple were mistakenly sat at a table with their young child where high chairs are not allowed due to food being run past the tables in that section. 

@zahra_etc

Thank you all for the kind messages + support 🤍🫂

♬ original sound - zahra_etc

 

Zahra claimed that after being moved to a different table and given a high chair, the couple then moved back to their original table without the baby seat. 

She said: "I've gone to this table now and as I am approaching this table, I notice that it is the couple with the baby. 

"As I'm putting the food down I asked them - because they have moved basically without telling anyone - 'are you not using the high chair then?' because they've moved by themselves without taking the high chair.

"It's at that point the man has picked up the plate and whacked me on the side of my head with it, and there was cutlery on the plate too."

The student claims in her video that two Metropolitan Police officers were present in the restaurant at the time of the alleged unprovoked assault. 

Despite CCTV footage, Zahra claimed that she was advised she would not be able to press charges against the man and that she saw one officer let the man go without taking details. 

She said: “What’s more concerning than the man’s behaviour was the behaviour of the Metropolitan Police and their conduct. I was grossly let down by them."

The investigation has now been reopened, with the Met issuing an apology online about how the matter was dealt with. 

They wrote: "We’re looking into why we didn’t respond promptly at the time of this incident in March and are sorry we didn’t provide a better service.

"We haven’t made any arrests yet – if anyone can help us identify this man please call 101 ref CAD 1872/21 Aug or DM us.”

The Recorder approached the force for a further statement in response to the online comments. 

A Met Police spokesperson said: “We are aware of a video circulating online showing an incident in a branch of Nando's in Stratford which took place in March.

“A report of assault was made to police at the time of the incident, however, it appears this was not progressed promptly by officers.

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"We are working to establish why this happened and accept this is not the level of service Londoners should rightfully expect from the Met.

“We have since made contact with the victim and a statement has been taken – we will endeavour to keep her updated with the progress of this investigation."

No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing to locate the man involved.

A Nando's spokesperson told the BBC: “This was a shocking and unprovoked attack earlier this year.

"We reported it to the police immediately and have supported our colleague since.

"We will not tolerate this kind of behaviour, the safety of our colleagues and customers is our priority.”