Latest news with #PcLorneCastle
The Independent
6 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Police release video of arrest that led to officer's sacking
Police have released footage of an officer who 'behaved aggressively and used unreasonable force' while arresting a boy, 15, to combat 'misinformation'. Pc Lorne Castle was dismissed after a disciplinary hearing held by Dorset Police following the incident in Bournemouth town centre on January 27 2024. The two-minute clip, released by the force on Tuesday, shows the officer tackling the boy to the ground before taking hold of the teenager's face and throat while repeatedly swearing and shouting at him. The boy can be heard shouting and crying 'what have I done' and 'what did I do' before the officer shouts 'stop screaming like a little b****, do you understand that? Shut up.' The teenager also screams 'my f****** neck, get off me, I don't want you on me', while Pc Castle is on top of him. The officer later shouts 'Stop resisting or I'm gonna smash you, do you understand?' and says the boy is being arrested on suspicion of assault. In a statement, Dorset Police said they had chosen to release the body-worn video because of the 'high level of public interest in the outcome of the misconduct hearing locally and to challenge misinformation.' Pc Castle previously admitted misconduct in relation to breaching the standards of professional behaviour relating to authority, respect and courtesy, conduct and use of force but denied gross misconduct, the force added. However, an independent panel found that the breaches amounted to gross misconduct and Pc Castle was dismissed without notice. The video formed part of the evidence reviewed by the panel during the three-day hearing which concluded on May 29. A knife was found around four-minutes into Pc Castle's interaction with the boy, after he had been put in handcuffs, Dorset Police said. The force added that the officer had been responding to information that the teenager may have been involved in an earlier suspected assault, but at no time was there any suggestion that a knife had been used. No further action was taken against the boy in relation to the reported assaults and he was issued with an out of court disposal for possessing the knife, according to police. Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Farrell said: 'I understand the strength of feeling in this case and it is right to be open and transparent about what the independent panel saw, alongside other evidence and testimony. 'We are sharing body worn video to address concerns about misinformation and to reassure the public that, while tackling crime in Dorset, our officers will continue to be proactive and robust – but by using their powers proportionately and with respect. 'Tackling violence, knife crime and antisocial behaviour are absolutely our priorities. 'At times our officers are required to use force to affect the arrest of suspects, prevent offences and protect the public, their colleagues and themselves. 'I have the utmost respect for the vast majority of officers, who have to use force when making an arrest and do so appropriately and with professionalism, even when they are exposed to risk and violence. 'They do a tough job and when their actions are proportionate, necessary and reasonable they will always be supported.' In a statement Dorset Police Federation criticised Dorset Police's decision to release the footage, saying the force had done so 'without also providing context or balance'. The federation added: 'Our view is that the showing of selective clips of an officer's body worn video is not a useful or responsible way to properly inform the public about an incident – and only serves to entice the public into making judgments without having the benefit of all the facts. 'This is not fair or just. ' The formal written outcome of the hearing will be published at a later date. Pc Castle will also be placed on the police barred list, preventing him from holding any future role in policing.
Telegraph
27-05-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Officer of the year faces sack for threatening to ‘smash' teenager's face
A police officer who was twice commended for saving lives could lose his job for threatening to 'smash' a teenager in the face. Pc Lorne Castle, who was Dorset Police's officer of the year, and Pc Susannah Justice, his colleague, were asked to intercept the 15-year-old boy after he was involved in two assaults. But during the arrest Pc Castle allegedly told the youth, who was found to be in possession of a knife, to 'stop screaming like a b----' and threatened to 'smash him' and putting his hands around the boy's neck. The officer is now accused of committing gross misconduct in regards to authority, respect, courtesy and conduct, and use of force after his colleague reported him to her sergeant. Mark Ley-Morgan, representing Dorset Police, told a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday that Pc Castle had admitted misconduct but denied it was a gross breach that could cost him his job. The hearing heard that at around 5.30pm on Jan 27 the pair, who were responding to a missing person's case at the time, saw the suspect riding on an electric scooter on Bournemouth seafront. Body cam footage played to the hearing showed Pc Castle exiting the car at speed and shouting to the suspect, referred to as Witness A, that he was under arrest but only after he already grabbed hold of him. Mr Ley-Morgan said: 'PC Castle forced him to the ground again before telling him what he was under arrest for arrest for and put him on the ground lying on his back with his face up. 'He shouted at Witness A, 'Show me your f----g hands,' when it should have been clear the suspect was frightened or intimidated by your actions. 'He told him to put his hands behind his back when he could not comply with instruction and grabbed hold of face with his right hand and pointed at his face with his left index finger.' Pc Castle reportedly said: 'Stop screaming like a b----. Do you understand that? Shut up.' Mr Ley-Morgan, addressing Pc Castle directly, said: 'You grabbed his throat with your right hand and radioed, 'Can I have another unit because he's being a b----' and you then told Witness A, 'Stop shouting or I'm going to smack you.'' Pc Castle subsequently put both hands on Witness A's throat and then used a headlock and accused him of resisting when he 'should have known on balance the suspect was afraid for his own safety due to your aggressive and intimidating behaviour'. He was handcuffed and put in leg restraints, but in doing so Pc Castle is alleged to have used excessive force. On the footage, Witness A can be heard screaming: 'He's trying to kill me.' He also says he had 'done nothing' and claimed he was autistic and he could not breathe. During the scuffle a knife was spotted. Pc Castle said in a previous statement that he was aware the suspect had allegedly been involved in two unrelated assaults. He said he assessed the threat from the suspect as 'high and unknown' and took him to the floor for his own safety. He claimed he shouted to 'instil dominance verbally but he was still struggling so I used further verbal shock to maintain control'. Pc Castle claimed he was aware of the youth's associates approaching from behind and, because of the amount of struggling, he grabbed Witness A's neck and to control him. He explained officers are taught to say they will 'strike' a suspect and PC Castle used 'smash' because it was language he thought Witness A might better understand and because wanted him to stop resisting. He now accepted he had made a number of serious mistakes. 'Belittling and insulting' Mr Ley-Morgan said: 'He has changed his case in an ill disguised attempt at damage limitation and to try to explain away his actions, which were wholly unjustified. It is a cynical attempt to gain sympathy. 'No evidence has been offered in support of his claim to be suffering from stress nor did it cause him to behave in the way he did. Witness A's reaction is one of fear. He is petrified. 'No reasonable officer would have thought to call him a b----. It was used to belittle and insult. And he had no right to categorise what he was doing as resisting. He was trying to protect himself. 'The suspect did nothing that could fairly be described as threatening or aggressive. He repeatedly asked what he had done and Pc Castle should have used that as an opportunity to de-escalate situation. 'The other young people were not presenting as a risk to officer and his colleagues and a knife did fall out but he did not know he had it. 'Pc Castle could and should have dealt with Witness A in a different way. He was caught out by his own response and the force he used was not proportionate reasonable or necessary.' The hearing continues.
