PC's punch on suspect deemed 'reasonable force'

A police officer who punched a suspect three times did not breach the standards of professional behaviour expected of him, a misconduct panel concluded.

PC Brian Long, who works for West Yorkshire Police, had denied using excessive force against a suspect in October 2022.

The misconduct hearing was told he gave the suspect a "backhander" when he was spat at, then punched him in the face three times after being headbutted.

Stephen Gowland, who chaired the hearing, said: "We have to think about the dynamic situation that officers are in and how they react."

Mr Gowland said the panel's job was to decide whether PC Long's actions were "reasonable, necessary and proportionate".

The incident took place during the arrest of a domestic abuse suspect on suspicion of false imprisonment at an address in Knottingley on the evening of 14 October 2022.

Mr Gowland said the man was "known to be violent" and had resisted arrest when he was detained at a "drug house".

PC Long was seen hitting the man twice to the stomach as he was pinned to the floor in body-worn footage played to the hearing, later telling a colleague he "had to give him a couple of light strikes".

Ian Mullarkey, acting for West Yorkshire Police, said a comment was made that the suspect had been "Brian'd" by PC Long, who had an "apparent reputation for using force".

But Mr Gowland said there was no evidence of PC Long using force in his job previously and the identity of the person who made the comment was also unknown.

The hearing was told the officer, who previously worked in the prison service, did use a "bear hug" technique to detain suspects "when feasible", but Mr Gowland said he "doesn't have a propensity to use unnecessary force when on duty".

PC Long said the "backhander" he gave the suspect in a police van after he was spat at was a "light tap to prevent further assault".

Mr Gowland said the panel agreed the force used was "necessary".

The officer was later thought to have left the suspect unconscious when he punched him three times after being headbutted.

PC Long told the hearing he had been acting in self-defence and did not use full force - a claim the panel accepted.

"There was a possibility of further assault and there was a danger caused by [the suspect] to both officers," said Mr Gowland, who revealed the man suffered no injuries from the punches.

The panel also said PC Long's actions were not deliberate when the suspect hit his head against a door frame while he was being dragged along the floor by the officer after being punched.

Mr Gowland said "at no stage" did PC Long "invite an attack" with the language he used towards the suspect despite telling him he was "all mouth" moments before the headbutt.

The panel did conclude some of PC Long's language was "unprofessional", with the officer ordered to undertake a reflective practice review.

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