Police watchdog investigates after officer filmed ‘punching man in head repeatedly’ - OLD

The police watchdog has launched an independent investigation into the actions of a Welsh police officer after he was filmed appearing to punch a man repeatedly in the head.

Footage of the incident emerged on social media and has caused considerable “public concern”, the Independent Office for Police Conduct said.

The incident happened on Wednesday during the arrest of a 34-year-old man from the Pensyflog area of Porthmadog, North Wales, after officers were called to an address in relation to a domestic incident, the IOPC said on Thursday.

It said inquiries were now underway to “establish whether the level of force used during the arrest was reasonable and proportionate in the circumstances”.

Concerned bystanders filmed the interaction and videos show the man being pinned face down on the ground by a male and female police officer before the male officer puts his arm around the man’s neck in a headlock and punches him nine times in the side of the head.

The man can be seen struggling and groaning in pain as the female officer puts him in handcuffs.

In a second clip he can be seen with a bloodied and swollen face as he is put in a police van.

A Twitter user who posted the footage online called for the officer who threw the punches to be sacked.

The video has now been viewed more than 100,000 times and commenters called into question the force as a whole.

After being tagged in the post, Gareth Davies, Conservative Senedd member for the Vale of Clwyd, tweeted to North Wales Police Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman and Home Secretary Suella Braverman: “This is police brutality. What are you doing? Surely we’re better than this?”

Gwynedd councillor Nia Jeffreys said the incident had “shaken” people’s trust in the police.

North Wales Police said the man was taken to hospital for treatment before being transferred into custody.

They confirmed a referral had been made to the IOPC and said the matter would be “fully investigated”.

The force also asked that only eye-witnesses to the incident now contact them and directed those who wish to make a complaint to the IOPC website.

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.”

Andy Dunbobbin, North Wales police and crime commissioner, said: “The video that is circulating of the arrest of a male in Porthmadog is concerning.

“I have discussed this incident with the chief constable this morning and she has confirmed the matter is rightly being investigated by North Wales Police, who will be issuing further updates in due course.

“As police and crime commissioner, I take such incidents seriously and will work with the police and other bodies to understand the circumstances behind the footage and act accordingly when the facts are established.”