The inquiry was launched after tens of thousands of viewers saw footage of an officer punching a boy three times in the stomach, chest, and throat before taking him into custody. Authorities had originally responded to the Alder Wood Avenue area after a crowd of roughly 20 youths blocked roads, launched fireworks at bystanders, smashed windows, and attempted to start fires. Merseyside Police emphasized that the circulated clip begins just before the strikes and lacks the preceding context. Investigators are urging the public to avoid speculation while the professional standards review determines the full circumstances.
Key points
The force's professional standards department is actively reviewing the arrest following…: The force's professional standards department is actively reviewing the arrest following a formal complaint submitted on Saturday.
Merseyside Police stated that the circulating video fails to show the events leading up t…: Merseyside Police stated that the circulating video fails to show the events leading up to the physical altercation.
The department reaffirmed its commitment to halting seasonal disorder while cautioning th…: The department reaffirmed its commitment to halting seasonal disorder while cautioning the public against spreading unverified rumors online.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
- Published
A police force has said it is reviewing a video which shows one of its officers punching a boy.
The footage circulated on social media shows a Merseyside Police officer punching what appears to be teenage boy three times while holding a pair of metal handcuffs in the hand he is striking him with.
The force said officers had been responding on Friday to reports of about 20 youths in the Alder Wood Avenue area of Speke, Liverpool, blocking roads with wheelie bins and "aiming fireworks at anyone who tried to remove them".
"We would like to stress that a short clip doesn't always show the full context," a Merseyside Police spokesman said.
The footage being circulated on social media - which has been viewed more than 40,000 times - begins moments before the officer strikes the boy.
It does not show anything that happened in the run-up to the incident.
Merseyside Police said youths had reportedly "smashed windows of nearby flats, tried to start fires and threatened members of the public".
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