South Wales Police officer found not guilty of assault in Cardiff

A South Wales Police officer has been found not guilty today (Wednesday) of assaulting a man during an arrest in Cardiff, following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

Following a two-day trial at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court a district judge found PC Rowan Knight, 30, not guilty of assaulting the man during an incident on Northern Avenue, Whitchurch, at around 2 am on Saturday 9 January this year.

The court heard evidence that the officer had allegedly used excessive force against the man on the street and in a police car.

Our investigation began in February after a complaint referral was received from South Wales Police. After careful consideration of the evidence, including body worn video footage of the incident and accounts from the man who was arrested and officers present, we passed a file to the Crown Prosecution Service, who authorised a charge of assault.

At the conclusion of our investigation, we also formed the view that PC Knight has a disciplinary case to answer for gross misconduct which South Wales Police agreed with. It will now be for the force to take forward disciplinary proceedings.