This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/6429569.stm
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 7 | Version 8 |
---|---|
CCTV officer off frontline duties | CCTV officer off frontline duties |
(40 minutes later) | |
A police officer shown in leaked CCTV footage punching a woman has been withdrawn from public duty. | A police officer shown in leaked CCTV footage punching a woman has been withdrawn from public duty. |
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has launched an investigation into the incident. | The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has launched an investigation into the incident. |
South Yorkshire's Chief Constable, Meredydd Hughes, said Pc Anthony Mulhall had not been suspended as the full facts needed to be uncovered. | South Yorkshire's Chief Constable, Meredydd Hughes, said Pc Anthony Mulhall had not been suspended as the full facts needed to be uncovered. |
CCTV footage showed Toni Comer, 20, being forcibly restrained after being ejected from a Sheffield nightclub. | CCTV footage showed Toni Comer, 20, being forcibly restrained after being ejected from a Sheffield nightclub. |
'More to story' | 'More to story' |
Mr Hughes added: "The officer draws a salary from the public purse and we will make use of his expertise and talent. | |
"But I don't want him put in a position where his welfare will be put at risk because he'll be dealing with the public. And also I want public confidence restored. | |
"The public needs to understand that there is more to this story, a full independent investigation must take place in order that the full facts can be placed before the public." | "The public needs to understand that there is more to this story, a full independent investigation must take place in order that the full facts can be placed before the public." |
South Yorkshire Police referred the matter to the IPCC on Thursday. | South Yorkshire Police referred the matter to the IPCC on Thursday. |
Nicholas Long, IPCC Commissioner for Yorkshire and Humberside, said an independent investigation would be conducted. | Nicholas Long, IPCC Commissioner for Yorkshire and Humberside, said an independent investigation would be conducted. |
Toni Comer admitted an offence of criminal damage What is reasonable force? Mr Long said: "I have seen the CCTV footage and decided it is in the public interest for a wholly independent investigation to be conducted. | Toni Comer admitted an offence of criminal damage What is reasonable force? Mr Long said: "I have seen the CCTV footage and decided it is in the public interest for a wholly independent investigation to be conducted. |
"This investigation will look into the circumstances of the incident to determine whether the force used by the officer when making the arrest was justified and proportionate." | "This investigation will look into the circumstances of the incident to determine whether the force used by the officer when making the arrest was justified and proportionate." |
The CCTV footage, obtained by the Guardian newspaper and shown on BBC Two's Newsnight, shows Ms Comer and a police officer falling down a flight of stairs outside Sheffield's Niche nightclub. | The CCTV footage, obtained by the Guardian newspaper and shown on BBC Two's Newsnight, shows Ms Comer and a police officer falling down a flight of stairs outside Sheffield's Niche nightclub. |
Police had been called when Ms Comer vandalised a car after being thrown out of the club. | Police had been called when Ms Comer vandalised a car after being thrown out of the club. |
At the bottom of the stairs, she is restrained by officers, with the officer she fell with punching her five times. It is not clear where he punched her. | At the bottom of the stairs, she is restrained by officers, with the officer she fell with punching her five times. It is not clear where he punched her. |
The footage shows Ms Comer, from Sheffield, writhing around on the ground, which she said was due to an epileptic fit. Police said she was trying to resist arrest. | The footage shows Ms Comer, from Sheffield, writhing around on the ground, which she said was due to an epileptic fit. Police said she was trying to resist arrest. |
She is later dragged to a police van with her trousers round her knees. | She is later dragged to a police van with her trousers round her knees. |
'Cuts and bruises' | 'Cuts and bruises' |
Ms Comer said on Thursday that she was "very surprised by the media frenzy" over the footage. | Ms Comer said on Thursday that she was "very surprised by the media frenzy" over the footage. |
"People are quite shocked that police would do that to somebody and hope they'll get what's coming to them", she added. | "People are quite shocked that police would do that to somebody and hope they'll get what's coming to them", she added. |
She tried to grab handfuls of my genitals and knee Pc Anthony Mulhall Earlier, she had told BBC's Newsnight programme: "I got quite a few cuts and bruises on my arms and my face and the back of my neck. | She tried to grab handfuls of my genitals and knee Pc Anthony Mulhall Earlier, she had told BBC's Newsnight programme: "I got quite a few cuts and bruises on my arms and my face and the back of my neck. |
"I really don't believe it. I didn't think they would actually do something like that at all." | "I really don't believe it. I didn't think they would actually do something like that at all." |
On Wednesday, at Sheffield Magistrates' Court, Ms Comer admitted criminal damage to a car, which she said happened after she was ejected from the nightclub where she had been drinking brandy and had become aggressive. | |
She was given a conditional discharge and ordered to pay £250 to the vehicle's owner. | She was given a conditional discharge and ordered to pay £250 to the vehicle's owner. |
A South Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "It's a matter of record that the officer involved has fully accepted striking the person in the course of arresting them for an offence for which they were convicted. | A South Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "It's a matter of record that the officer involved has fully accepted striking the person in the course of arresting them for an offence for which they were convicted. |
"The officer maintains that he did so because the offender was assaulting him." | "The officer maintains that he did so because the offender was assaulting him." |
In a statement, Pc Mulhall said: "As her hands became free she tried to grab handfuls of my genitals and knee and kick me in the same place. | In a statement, Pc Mulhall said: "As her hands became free she tried to grab handfuls of my genitals and knee and kick me in the same place. |
He said he had punched her to subdue her and then to "deaden her arm". | He said he had punched her to subdue her and then to "deaden her arm". |
Have you been involved in similar events? Are you a serving police officer? If you have a story you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below: | Have you been involved in similar events? Are you a serving police officer? If you have a story you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below: |