Police watchdog launches inquiry after officer ‘kicks and hits a 15-year-old drugs suspect in the street as he tried to stop and search him’
- The IOPC said CCTV of an incident in Newtown, Birmingham has caused concern
- Shocking video appears to show the police officer kick and hit a 15-year-old boy
- The officer can be seen grappling with the teenager after trying to search him
- The policeman has been removed from front line duties by West Midlands Police
The police watchdog has launched an inquiry into the actions of an officer after a complaint that he assaulted a 15-year-old boy.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said CCTV footage of the incident in Newtown, Birmingham, had been shared on social media and caused significant public concern.
Shocking video appears to show the police officer kick and hit a 15-year-old boy in the street.
The unnamed officer can be seen grappling with the teenager moments after trying to stop and search him for drugs on Melbourne Avenue.
The unnamed police officer was captured on CCTV, above, appearing to take the 15-year-old boy to the ground with a hit to the head and a kick on his body
The officer has been removed from front line duties by West Midlands Police while bosses carry out an investigation.
He then appears to take the teenager to the ground with a hit to the head and a kick on his body – which one witness described as ‘unnecessary.’
The incident took place around 5pm on April 21 after the teenager was told he would be stopped and searched under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
In a statement, the IOPC said: ‘Footage of the incident has been shared on social media that shows a police officer involved in an altercation with the boy, who he is seen to strike and kick.
The teenager pictured before he was taking to the ground by the officer, left, and afterwards, right. The boy was stopped and searched after ‘acting suspiciously’, said police
‘We would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the interaction which took place at around 5pm in an alleyway by Melbourne Avenue.’
IOPC regional director Derrick Campbell said: ‘We are aware that the footage circulated on social and other media has caused significant public concern.
‘We have decided to carry out an independent investigation into the conduct of the officer following a voluntary referral made to us by West Midlands Police.
‘We will be carefully examining the circumstances of the incident and the officer’s use of force.’
An officer and passerby walk towards the policeman and teenager during the incident. West Midlands Police said the 15-year-old is ‘alleged to have elbowed the officer in the face’
The IOPC said it was aware of a second recent incident involving the same officer, where it is alleged excessive force was used against another member of the public.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, West Midlands Police said the teenager had been seen acting suspiciously on April 21 and was told he would be searched under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
The force said in a statement: ‘He refused to co-operate and is alleged to have elbowed the officer in the face.
‘The officer has not been suspended, but has been removed from front-line duties.’
Another police officer pictured at the scene afterwards, with four witnesses also seen standing nearby. One witness described the response as ‘totally uncalled for’