Moment effigy of police officer wearing a pig mask burns on a bonfire as huge crowds watch

• The disturbing effigy was burnt on bonfire night in Birkenhead, Merseyside 

This is the shocking moment an effigy of a police officer wearing a pig mask was placed on a bonfire as huge crowds gathered for bonfire night over the weekend. 

The disturbing effigy was sat atop stacks of pallets that towered over the surrounding area in the north end district of Birkenhead, Merseyside.

The video was captured by a local man who spotted crowds putting the finishing touches on the stack as he passed by the preparations for bonfire night on Sunday.

The footage begins as the man drives down the road passing a community-built football cage with green fencing. He looks out of the passenger side window in a car as he clocks the massive pile of wooden pallets, saying: ‘F**k me, it’s a big mound that.’

As the car continues to move away from the bonfire, he swivels the camera to continue filming the impressive structure before commenting: ‘F*****g grass on the top there.’ 

This was the shocking effigy of a police officer wearing a pig mask which was burnt in Birkenhead

The huge mound of pallets can be seen on the right, while locals climb up to take photos of the effigy (left)

This is the shocking moment that the bonfire was lit up on November 5 for bonfire night

The ‘grass’ on the top of the structure is the fake human body which has been dressed as a police constable, complete with a pig’s face.

The police officer had a traditional helmet added to the top of the head whilst the disturbing figure’s finer details even included badges, epaulettes and the badge attached to the helmet.

Organisers appear to have impaled the effigy on a piece of wood to ensure that the constable won’t tip over and tumble down the carefully constructed bonfire.

The footage was shared to social media on Sunday with the caption: ‘Birkenhead never change.’

It received over 3,700 likes with dozens of comments from social media users who were quick to condemn the structure and its effigy.

One said: ‘F**k me, if that’s not a disaster waiting to happen.’

A second replied: ‘F***ing idiots imagine life without police.’

Another commented: ‘Now this is f***ed mind.’

Further footage was also posted of the police officer effigy going up in flames as crowds gathered around. 

Thousands of Britons gathered across the UK for bonfire night and effigies of Rishi Sunak and Suella Braverman were among those burnt.

The police officer had a traditional helmet added to the top of the head whilst the disturbing figure’s finer details even included badges, epaulettes and the badge attached to the helmet

Social media users reacted to the footage of the giant effigy in Birkenhead. One said it was ‘a disaster waiting to happen’

In the East Sussex town of Lewes – dubbed the bonfire capital of the world – the streets were turned into a riot of colour and noise, as hoards of people gathered to watch bonfire societies parade through.

Each year effigies, often reflective of the political climate, are burnt on the fields outside the town. This year, along with the Prime Minister and Home Secretary, an effigy of Chancellor Jeremy Hunt driving a train with HS2 scrawled on the sign was burnt.

It comes after the highly anticipated rail projected was axed earlier this year.

An effigy of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak MP is drawn through the streets during the Lewes Bonfire celebrations in East Sussex 

In previous years effigies of former Prime Minister’s Liz Truss, Boris Johnson, Tony Blair, as well as the under-fire pandemic health secretary Matt Hancock and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Bonfire Night has been celebrated for over 400 years, with a mandatory notice of celebration once existing which made it illegal not to celebrate.

Bonfires and fireworks are traditionally involved to commemorate the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605, where Guy Fawkes and others attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament.

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