Tower Hamlets: police respond to 'brutality' claims as inquiry launched into headlock video

Tom Powell11 October 2016
WEST END FINAL

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The Met has defended the actions of a police officer over video of a teenager being put in a headlock outside a Tower Hamlets youth club.

The Directorate of Professional Standards has been called in to investigate footage of a furious teenager screaming “why are you lying” at officers while being arrested.

An officer then accuses the young man of spitting at him, before pushing his head down and holding him in a headlock. The teenager’s friends can be heard shouting “why are you holding his head?”

The Borough Commander of Tower Hamlets police said the video showed: "officers restraining a man who is non-compliant in a difficult policing situation.”

Footage of the arrest, which took place outside the Arbour Youth Centre, has caused an online storm, with hundreds criticising the officer’s "heavy-handed" approach.

Tower Hamlets mayor John Biggs also condemned the incident and demanded a response from police, saying: “I know many in our community will understandably be angry at what they have seen.”

Tower Hamlets Borough Commander Sue Williams has now announced an investigation into the footage is underway.

She said: “Neighbourhood Officers from Tower Hamlets were out on routine patrol in Shandy Street, E1, and spoke to some young men due to concerns about anti-social behaviour in this area.

“At 20:10 the officers called for additional assistance. One man was arrested on suspicion of assault on police and a section 5 Public Order Act Offence. ”

Angry: the officer claims he has been spat at
@ItsZRahman / Twitter

Chief Supt Williams added: “Senior officers at Tower Hamlets are aware of the footage of the arrest being circulated on social media and of community concerns regarding this. As soon as they became aware the man in the footage was contacted to see if he wished to make a formal complaint.

“To date no formal complaint has been received in connection with this incident but this is being followed up. However, the footage has been passed to the Directorate of Professional Standards to review.

“A review is necessary as the footage captures only a snap shot of officers restraining a man who is non-compliant in a difficult policing situation.”

In a post shared on the Arbour Youth Centre’s Instagram page, the arrested youth said he was “subjected to a violent ordeal with none of my rights upheld”.

He said: "As you can see from the video, I am subject to a vicious assault and police brutality. I did not spit at anyone!”

"I have no dealings with the police, nor am I known to the police, wanted, nor was I in the process of committing a crime or equipped to carry out an offence."

Tower Hamlets mayor John Biggs said an investigation was required into why the officer "appears to have acted so aggressively".

"If the actions in this video are what they appear, then we need to see action from the police and a full apology given," he added.

"Our community needs to have faith and confidence in the police who serve us. Incidents like this threaten to destroy that trust and undo years of work to build closer relations between the police and our community."

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