Nowt to do with obstruction Baz, that's not an arrestable offence. And I can see where you're coming from Mark, but the power to require a person to move on is exerciseable on the public highway and a tow path isn't a public highway.... nor is a refusal to move on an arrestable offence either. If the refusal is polite there's not much more the officers can do or are entitled to do. But these geniuses obviously did.
So having over played their hand and facing dismissal for conduct unbecoming the force and executing an unlawful arrest the rozzers had to have some explanation to give to the station desk Sergeant. So they came out came out with that good old standby, behaviour liable to cause a breach of the peace or equivalent.
For which, in the good old days, the Woodentops in the magistrate's Court would duly have entirely accepted the officers lying evidence that he was verbally abusive, adopted a threatening posture and they feared he was going to strike them. And he would have been fined, bound over and had a criminal record for life. Unjustly.
Then wonder of wonders someone remembers the CCTV footage. And realises that the officer's lies, if foolish enough to be taken to Court, would show the angler to be completely innocent, peaceably minding his own business and causing no obstruction whatsoever.
If he wants to sue for as much as he can get then I for one will represent him quite cheerfully as a Mckenzie friend for no fee.
The police force in this country has declined to a level of corruption of a level not experienced since before operation Countryman. OK, a different type of petty corruption, but corruption all the same. A law enforcement officer lying to cover his arse is a dirty object of valid contempt, whether it is a lie told to facilitate an armed robber's blag, a drug dealer's stash or a bullying little shit's overdoing it on the tow path.
Shame on them.