Officer suspended after ‘punch’ footage emerges
A POLICE officer who was filmed appearing to repeatedly punch a man while arresting him has been suspended, North Wales Police has said.
The force confirmed news of the officer’s suspension on Friday evening after the footage emerged and spread across social media on Wednesday.
North Wales Police said on Thursday that an investigation had been launched to look into the incident which concluded in the arrest of a 34-year-old man in Porthmadog, Gwynedd.
In the video, seemingly recorded by a resident, one officer has his arm around the neck of the man and is then seen hitting him nine times.
The man is then seen with what appear to be injuries to the face before he is put into the back of a police vehicle.
On Friday, North Wales Police confirmed in a short statement that the officer had been “suspended from duty”.
The update reads: “We can confirm that the officer involved has been suspended from duty.
“The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is leading the investigation and we are therefore unable to provide any further information.
“In relation to the man arrested we can confirm that he was released on bail.”
On Thursday, the IOPC said in its own statement: “We became aware this morning that a video of the incident was being shared widely on social media.
“North Wales Police subsequently referred the matter to us.
“We understand that officers arrested a man at an address after being called to a domestic incident.
“We have been advised that the man was taken to hospital for treatment after the arrest before being transferred into custody.”
IOPC director David Ford said: “Footage on social media, capturing part of the interaction between police officers and the arrested man has, understandably, attracted significant interest and public concern.
“It is important that we thoroughly and independently investigate the whole incident, in order to establish whether the level of force used during the arrest was reasonable and proportionate in the circumstances.”