Video by Dorset Police shows dismissed officer arresting teen
Video footage showing the arrest of a 15-year-old boy, which led to the dismissal of a police officer has been released by Dorset Police.An independent panel found PC Lorne Castle's actions amounted to gross misconduct, and he was dismissed without notice.The panel found Castle did not treat the teenager with courtesy or respect, and that his shouting, swearing, finger pointing, taking hold of the boy's face and throat, and suggesting the use of leg restraints were not necessary, proportionate or reasonable.The panel found the force used to take him to the ground was necessary, reasonable and proportionate.
In the footage, the boy is audibly distressed, and keeps asking why he is being arrested.Dorset Police said a knife was found on the boy afterwards, but beforehand there had been no suggestion he was armed or that a knife had been used.The force said no further action was taken against the teenager, but he was issued with an out of court disposal for possessing the knife.Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Farrell said the force was sharing the footage to be transparent and address misinformation.
In reaction to the release of the video the Dorset Police Federation said the force had not provided "context or balance" and "entices the public into making judgements without having the benefit of all the facts".It said that the footage failed to show a "double-bladed knife" which fell from the clothing of the suspect.It added that the officer was warned to be "extra cautious" ahead of the arrest, due to a mass brawl in the town centre just two nights before, which involved youths with "machetes and knives"."The reason for the release appears primarily to be an attempt by Dorset Police to manage some of the public criticism the force has received following the decision to dismiss the officer, rather than a genuine desire to properly inform the public," the Federation said.PC Castle has previously apologised and admitted his behaviour was "rude", but said he "panicked in the moment".
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