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Telegraph
7 days ago
- General
- Telegraph
Sacked Dorset policeman ‘thrown under a bus' after arrest of teenager
A highly-experienced and decorated police officer has been dismissed for gross misconduct for a momentary loss of self-control during the arrest of a knife-carrying 15-year-old. Lorne Castle was found to have behaved aggressively and used unreasonable force during the incident in January 2024, after a three-day disciplinary hearing at Dorset Police HQ. During the incident, Castle allegedly told the youth, who was found to be in possession of a knife, to 'stop screaming like a b---h' and threatened to 'smash him' before putting his hands around the boy's neck. At the time of the arrest, the youth was wanted in connection with an assault on an elderly member of the public on Bournemouth seafront and for being part of a gang attack at a McDonald's restaurant. As three officers struggled to restrain him and handcuff him, a three-inch knife fell out of his pocket. One end was a lock knife and the other a Stanley knife. The teenager claimed it was for use at his work. A large gang fight had occurred in the area a few days before the incident. Two potential suspects from the fight were still at large on the morning when Castle went out on patrol with Pc Susannah Justice, and the shift had again been given a warning about the possible dangers from the outstanding offenders. Castle, a former martial arts instructor whose wife Denise is a world champion Muay Thai kickboxer, was encouraged to join the force after his effective work as a community safety patrol officer working in the Boscombe area. In a decade as a Pc, he has twice been commended for saving the lives of members of the public. In one incident in 2023, he put his own safety at risk to rescue a woman from being swept away in a flooded river. In 2021, Castle was made Dorset Police's officer of the year for his 'outstanding service' and for undertaking every shift 'with the personal commitment to make a difference and do the right thing'. On Thursday evening, he was found guilty of the more serious gross breaches of professional conduct after a ruling from a three-person disciplinary panel chaired by Deborah Smith, another assistant chief constable. Castle, a 46-year-old father of three, admitted his conduct had amounted to misconduct and tearfully apologised during his evidence. 'Bloody madness' Norman Brennan, a retired police officer and founder of the police wellbeing campaign group Protect the Protectors, accused Dorset Police of throwing PC Castle 'under a bus'. He said: 'Senior officers at Dorset Police have taken leave of their senses. This decision epitomises how they have lost touch with the danger and reality of frontline policing. 'It is bloody madness.' He added: 'I'm sick and tired of officers being disciplined for things like this, and I think the majority of the public would think this is absolutely bonkers. 'Many senior officers kowtow to the constant criticism of the police in a sort of appeasement and often throw officers under the bus or to the wolves as sacrificial lambs. 'Cases like this are more likely to deter people from joining the police.' 'Excessive, aggressive and inappropriate' Despite the ruling, the panel concluded he genuinely believed the 15-year-old, who was hooded and covering his face when Castle spotted him walking along a city centre pavement with two associates, was a potential escapee and high risk. As the situation unfolded, the panel also accepted he genuinely thought the boy was resisting arrest and trying to break free and that these beliefs were those of any reasonable officer. Taking the suspect to the ground and putting him in a headlock were also acknowledged to be 'necessary, reasonable and proportionate' in the circumstances. But body worn footage recorded him shouting and swearing at the teenager saying 'show me your f---ing hands' and to 'stop being a little b---h' as the suspect repeatedly shouted and screamed in a high-pitched voice. And the panel felt the level of force used, including putting the suspect in leg restraints, was not justified, despite acknowledging these actions were born out of a genuine fear for the officer's own safety. Ms Smith said Castle failed to act with self-control and did not treat the teenager with courtesy or respect. No further action was taken against him as a result of the two assaults because no complaints were made, and his arrest for suspicions of possession of a knife was dealt with using an out of court disposal. After the hearing, Ms Smith, in a prepared statement, said she had 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' She said officers do a 'tough job' and where their actions are proportionate, 'they will always be supported'. She added: 'We recognise the risks they place themselves in every day and we ensure they receive the necessary training so they can correctly and safely arrest suspects while understanding the importance of treating the public with dignity and respect. 'I have never been in any doubt that Pc Castle's actions were excessive, aggressive and inappropriate, and I can understand the communities we serve will be concerned about this case.'
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.
