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West Yorkshire Police officer punch deemed ‘reasonable force’

West Yorkshire Police officer punch deemed ‘reasonable force’

Gowland said the panel’s job was to decide whether PC Long’s actions were “reasonable, necessary and proportionate”.

The incident occurred during the arrest of a domestic abuse suspect on suspicion of false imprisonment at an address in Knottingley on the evening of October 14, 2022.

Gowland said the man had a “famous for violence” and resisted arrest while being held on “drugs.”

In a recording played during the hearing, PC Long punched the man twice in the stomach while he was pinned to the floor and later told a colleague he “had to give him a few light punches”.

Ian Mullarkey, representing West Yorkshire Police, said there had been a comment that the suspect had been “attacked by Brian” by PC Long, who had a “clear reputation for using force”.

However, Gowland said there was no evidence that PC Long had previously used force in his job and the identity of the person who made the remark was also unknown.

During the hearing, the officer, who previously worked in the prison service, was told that he did use a “bear hug” technique to detain suspects “when possible,” but Gowland said he had “no tendency to use unnecessary force while on duty.”