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| University of Warwick protest: 'Excessive force' claims investigated | University of Warwick protest: 'Excessive force' claims investigated |
| (4 months later) | |
| Police are investigating claims officers used "disproportionate force" during a protest at the University of Warwick. | Police are investigating claims officers used "disproportionate force" during a protest at the University of Warwick. |
| Three people were arrested on Wednesday as about 25 students demonstrated against rising tuition fees. | Three people were arrested on Wednesday as about 25 students demonstrated against rising tuition fees. |
| Video on YouTube showed police using CS spray and threatening protesters at the Coventry campus with a Taser. | Video on YouTube showed police using CS spray and threatening protesters at the Coventry campus with a Taser. |
| West Midlands Police said the videos would be examined and it expected the highest standards from all officers. | West Midlands Police said the videos would be examined and it expected the highest standards from all officers. |
| Security staff at the university said they had faced a "shocking and totally unprovoked act of violence" from protesters, prompting them to call police. | Security staff at the university said they had faced a "shocking and totally unprovoked act of violence" from protesters, prompting them to call police. |
| One person was arrested on suspicion of assault, another two on suspicion of obstruction. All three have since been released on police bail. | One person was arrested on suspicion of assault, another two on suspicion of obstruction. All three have since been released on police bail. |
| A statement on the Warwick Free Education website said demonstrators were "punched, pushed on to the floor, dragged, grabbed by the throat and rammed into a wall and kneed in the face". | A statement on the Warwick Free Education website said demonstrators were "punched, pushed on to the floor, dragged, grabbed by the throat and rammed into a wall and kneed in the face". |
| Warwick Students Union said that based on video footage online "we absolutely believe that disproportionate force was used against protesters". | Warwick Students Union said that based on video footage online "we absolutely believe that disproportionate force was used against protesters". |
| As a result, it said some students were "unnecessarily harmed". | As a result, it said some students were "unnecessarily harmed". |
| Some video clips have since been removed from YouTube. | Some video clips have since been removed from YouTube. |
| Coventry Police Commander Ch Supt Claire Bell said: "Police officers are highly trained in dealing with all public order situations and using appropriate levels of force. | Coventry Police Commander Ch Supt Claire Bell said: "Police officers are highly trained in dealing with all public order situations and using appropriate levels of force. |
| "We are aware of videos of the protest being circulated on social media sites, which will be examined. | "We are aware of videos of the protest being circulated on social media sites, which will be examined. |
| "We expect the highest standards from all officers, and if any officer is found to have fallen below these standards in any way, they will be thoroughly investigated." | "We expect the highest standards from all officers, and if any officer is found to have fallen below these standards in any way, they will be thoroughly investigated." |
| West Midlands Police said a Taser was drawn as a warning, but was not fired, while CS spray was used when it was felt a group was advancing on officers. | West Midlands Police said a Taser was drawn as a warning, but was not fired, while CS spray was used when it was felt a group was advancing on officers. |