Police ‘baton attack’ on teen

THE police watchdog is examining footage of a police officer hitting a suspect with a baton in the street.

The images were posted online and show a black youth in handcuffs being hit across the legs by a plainclothes officer.

One onlooker can be heard saying, ‘You can’t just hit him like that’ and the phone footage sparked a furious blacklash.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating the incident in Romford, east London, on Easter Monday.

A 17-year-old was arrested for possession with intent to supply and obstruction of a drugs search. Police say the footage does not show the whole incident and that an officer was assaulted.