Allegations of use of excessive force - Sussex Police, January and March 2017

On 18 January 2017, Sussex Police officers attended reports of a breach of the peace in Brighton. Police arrested a 15-year-old boy. Evidence suggests one officer punched, kicked and applied a pressure point technique to the boy’s head during the arrest.

On 13 March 2017 the same officer arrested a 16-year-old boy in Brighton following reports of a suspected vehicle interference. Evidence suggests the officer applied two bursts of incapacitant spray to the boy’s face and applied pressure to his hand during the arrest

This incident was brought to our attention when a colleague raised concerns over the officer’s use of force against the 15-year-old.

Investigators interviewed the officer and obtained statements from the other officers who witnessed the force used on the two boys. We also interviewed the 15-year-old. The 16-year-old did not provide his account.

We viewed body-worn video from both incidents and reviewed policy and training documents.

The investigator concluded there was sufficient evidence upon which a reasonable tribunal could find that the officer’s use of force in respect of the 15-year-old was not proportionate, reasonable or necessary in the circumstance. We found no indication of misconduct in respect of the arrest of the 16-year-old boy.

After reviewing our report, Sussex Police agreed that the officer may have a case to answer for gross misconduct in respect of the arrest of the 15-year-old, and held a gross misconduct hearing.

The panel for the hearing concluded that the officer’s punch and kick were not unreasonable in the circumstances. However, the panel found that the officer repeatedly applied pressure to the 15-year-old’s ear while he was on the ground, and concluded it was unnecessary and disproportionate in the circumstances. The panel found this breached the standards of professional behaviour and amounted to misconduct (rather than gross misconduct). The officer received a written warning.