A police force have said they are 'fully investigating' after videos emerged of an officer appearing to hit a member of the public several times while performing an arrest.
In the first of two clips shared on social media on Wednesday, a man is seen being held on the ground by a male police officer in a front garden while a female colleague assists him.
The policeman then appears to deliver several punches to the man's neck and head while restraining him as the individual struggles against the arrest.
A second clip then shows the man with a blood on his face as he is taken into the back of a police van by three officers.
North Wales Police have since confirmed that 34-year-old man involved in the incident in the town of Porthmadog, Gwynedd was given a medical assessment in hospital before being transferred into custody.
They added that the incident is being fully investigated.
A statement read: "We are aware of videos circulating on social media which show North Wales Police officers arresting a 34-year-old male from the Porthmadog area earlier today (Wednesday, 10 May).
"The suspect was subsequently conveyed to hospital and assessed by medical staff before his transfer into police custody.
"This matter is currently being fully investigated by North Wales Police and further updates will be issued in due course."
In a tweet on Thursday, Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman said the footage of the incident was being taken "very seriously" and confirmed that the matter had been referred to the IOPC police watchdog.
An IOPC spokesperson said: “We became aware this morning of a video shared on social media showing an incident in Porthmadog involving a police officer.
"We have now received a referral from North Wales Police which is being assessed to determine what action may be needed by the IOPC.”
Local politicians Liz Saville Roberts MP, Mabon ap Gwynfor MS and Porthmadog councillor Nia Jeffreys have also sent a joint letter to the Chief Constable, in which they ask her to clarify whether the restraint methods used are approved by North Wales Police.
It reads: "Constituents have drawn our attention to a video posted on Facebook showing two police officers restraining a man. The incident took place outdoors in a residential area in the Porthmadog area.
"Although we do not know the details of the event or whether the man has been arrested or charged we contact in order to express concerns of constituents that the video appears to show one of the police officers using excessive force.
"Can you tell us whether or not restraint methods used have the approval of North Wales Police and what steps you will take to reassure the public that they can trust the police given that a number of people have taken to social media to say that they were horrified by the contents of the video?"
