The police watchdog has launched an independent investigation after a police officer in Wales was filmed appearing to punch a man repeatedly in the head before arresting him.
Footage of the incident is circulating on social media and has caused considerable “public concern”, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said.
The incident occurred on Wednesday during the arrest of a 34-year-old man from the Pensyflog area of Porthmadog, north Wales, after officers were called to an address in relation to a domestic incident.
Bystanders filmed the interaction and video footage shows the suspect being pinned face down on the ground by a male and a female police officer.
The male officer then puts his arm around the man’s neck in a headlock and appears to punch him nine times in the side of the head.
The suspect can be seen struggling and groaning in pain as the female officer puts him in handcuffs.
In a second video clip, the man arrested appears to have a bloodied and swollen face as he is put in a police van. The video has been viewed more than 100,000 times on social media.
The IOPC said inquiries were under way to “establish whether the level of force used during the arrest was reasonable and proportionate in the circumstances”.
After being tagged in the post, Gareth Davies, the Conservative Senedd member for the Vale of Clwyd, tweeted to the North Wales police chief constable, Amanda Blakeman, and the home secretary, Suella Braverman: “This is police brutality. What are you doing? Surely we’re better than this?”
Nia Jeffreys, a Gwynedd councillor, said the incident had shaken people’s trust in the police.
North Wales police said the man was taken to hospital for treatment before being transferred into custody. The force confirmed that a referral had been made to the IOPC and said the matter would be fully investigated.
It added that only witnesses to the incident should get in contact, and it directed those who wish to make a complaint to the IOPC website.
The IOPC director for Wales, David Ford, said: “Footage on social media capturing part of the interaction between police officers and the arrested man has, understandably, attracted significant interest and public concern.
“It is important that we thoroughly and independently investigate the whole incident, in order to establish whether the level of force used during the arrest was reasonable and proportionate in the circumstances.”
Andy Dunbobbin, the North Wales police and crime commissioner, said: “The video that is circulating of the arrest of a male in Porthmadog is concerning. I have discussed this incident with the chief constable this morning and she has confirmed the matter is rightly being investigated by North Wales police, who will be issuing further updates in due course.”
