Policeman is suspended after footage emerged of him kneeling on a Leeds fan’s neck during disorder after the team won promotion back to the Premier League
- A 17-year-old boy was arrested by police outside Elland Road stadium in Leeds
- Witnesses filmed the incident which took place around 5pm on Saturday
- Bystanders shouted at a police officer to take his knee from the boy’s head
- The officer has been taken away from front line duties during an IOPC probe
A police officer has been suspended after footage of him kneeling on a Leeds United fan’s neck during an arrest was shared widely on social media.
The incident happened outside Elland Road stadium in Leeds as fans celebrated their team’s return to the Premier League.
Police struggled to deal with drunken fans over the weekend who ignored social distancing rules while congregating around the stadium.
These are the shocking scenes as a police officer appeared to kneel on a suspect’s head during an arrest on Saturday evening outside Elland Road stadium in Leeds
Three officers struggled to arrest the 17-year-old boy while witnesses recorded the incident
Thousands of Leeds United fans ignored social distancing rules after their team was promoted to the Premier League last weekend
The footage from Saturday afternoon showed several officers grappling with the 17-year-old boy outside Elland Road.
Witnesses claimed officers had already sprayed the teenager with pepper spray.
However, one officer was seen placing a knee on the young man’s neck with witnesses shouting ‘get your f****** knee off him’.
Several other officers try and keep other members of the public back while their colleagues struggle to put handcuffs on the young man.
During the clip, several people shout at the police telling them to take their knee from the man’s neck.
West Yorkshire Police assistant chief constable Catherine Hankinson told The Sun: ‘Officers were in attendance at Elland Road football stadium on Saturday 18 July at around 17:10.
‘A 17-year-old male was arrested for a public order offence and obstructing a PC. He has since been released from custody and given a youth community resolution order.
‘This morning, we have been made aware of a video showing the arrest of the male. We have reviewed the footage and looked into it as a matter of urgency to establish the full circumstances.’
The assistant chief constable said the matter has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct while the officer in question has been removed from front line duties.
Emergency workers spent the entire weekend dealing with drunken Leeds fans following their top flight return.
One man was rushed to hospital with serious injuries after falling from a lamp post.
In a separate incident a woman PC was seriously injured as 7,000 fans celebrated in Leeds city centre.
A huge clean-up operation was under way in Leeds on Monday morning after an estimated 7,000 people gathered to mark the club’s return to the Premier League after 16 years, leaving a sea of broken glass in a city centre square.
West Yorkshire Police said a female officer was hit by a bottle and taken to hospital with serious head injuries.
A number of other officers were also hurt along with members of the public as nine people were arrested, the force said.
Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Oz Khan said: ‘Throughout the weekend, fans have gathered across Leeds to celebrate the promotion of Leeds United into the Premier League.
‘We have continued to impress upon fans the importance of the Covid-19 Government guidance and our approach has primarily remained as one of engagement and encouragement.
‘On Sunday, almost 7,000 people gathered in Millennium Square in Leeds.
‘Whilst the vast majority of fans were enjoying themselves and celebrating, there were a small minority of people who began to throw bottles at police officers.
‘A female officer suffered a serious head injury and was taken to hospital for treatment, a number of other officers suffered minor injuries and a further 15 members of the public were injured.’
Mr Khan said officers were deployed to Millennium Square at noon and began to disperse the crowds in the evening.
He said the area was cleared by 11.55pm, with nine people arrested for public order offences.
The officer said: ‘The safety of fans and the wider public is our primary concern.
‘Violence towards police officers will not be tolerated and we deployed an appropriate police response to ensure that the festivities concluded safely.
‘It is important to remind the public that we must not lose sight of the fact that Covid-19 is still with us and that large gatherings are still not permitted.’
Millennium Square was left strewn with discarded rubbish and broken glass and a large-scale clear-up operation began on Monday morning.