WATCH: Officer accused of 'punching' vulnerable girl during restraint as police face more criticism after Henry Nowak murder
Girl was left with blood on her face and suffering headaches
Police have been accused by a furious dad of “extreme force” and “punching” a vulnerable Waterlooville teenage girl who was grappled to the ground during a struggle.
A video which captured the arrest, outside Primark in Above Bar Street in Southampton on Friday around midnight, shows the 15-year-old being pinned to the ground by four officers.
The incident comes following widespread criticism of Hampshire police over the Henry Nowak murder arrest. The teenager said he had been stabbed and could not breathe but was not believed - raising questions over the police response.
The event on Friday, involving a girl who refused to return to her temporary foster carers in Southampton, has led to further criticism of the police.
In the video, as the girl is held face down on the ground, an officer shouts “do not bite me” after apparently being bitten. The officer strikes out his arm during the restraint, with the girl’s dad insisting she was “punched”. The clip shows the officer then use two hands to push the girl’s head firmly down to the floor with his knee placed on her upper body.
Moments later, the teenager is seen being carried by the four officers before being placed into the back of a police van having appeared to be unresponsive at one point.
The girl’s dad told The News he was angry at the police response after his daughter was left with blood coming from her head and suffering “extreme headaches” following the incident.
Police were called after the girl, who usually resides in Waterlooville, had refused to return to her foster carers in Southampton.
The girl’s father said: “I’m shocked at what happened. She was walking along and the officers jumped on her and threw her on the floor. She didn’t have a weapon and wasn’t being aggressive until she was provoked when being violently restrained.
“She’s a child who only weighs 50kg. What was the danger? The officer lost control and punched her. She was left with blood on her face and her left eye was bruised.
“She was not given any medical care, even though they said she had. The next day she didn’t remember what happened.”
The incident, which comes as Hampshire police is investigated over the Mr Nowak murder arrest, has led to claims officers were “unprofessional” in how they dealt with the situation. “I’m not sure if they are not properly trained or whether it is bad training,” the girl’s dad said.
“If they had been gentle with her and talked with her then I’m sure she would have just got in the police van. They didn’t need to use unjustified extreme force. This should have been treated as a safeguarding and welfare matter.
“It was distressing to watch my daughter being restrained like this and carried into a police van. I want to know why this level of force was used against a child.
“The witnesses who were watching were upset about what happened. My daughter is under investigation for assault while they are allowed to punch a minor. Did it need four officers to deal with her like this?”
The dad said he has contacted a solicitors firm and is looking at lodging a complaint against the force.
A police spokesperson said: “At around 11.55pm on Friday 5 June, officers located a teenage girl who had been reported missing at the rear of Primark on Vincents Walk in Southampton.
“Officers were concerned for the girl's welfare and attempted to engage with her explaining they wanted to take her home safely, however the girl refused to go. During the interaction four officers were assaulted.
“A 15-year-old girl was subsequently arrested on suspicion of assault by beating an emergency worker. She has since been released under investigation while enquiries continue.”