A police officer has been suspended after an arrest turned violent in the Harrogate district.
North Yorkshire Police said in a statement yesterday (April 7) it had referred the case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct “following concerns raised about the officers’ use of force”.
The incident happened in the Tockwith area on January 26 this year. Tockwith is between Knaresborough and York on the edge of the Harrogate district.
Police received a report of a road traffic collision. The statement added:
“Officers attended, and arrested a man in his 40s in connection with the incident.
“The man became violent towards officers, who used force to restrain and arrest him. He was taken to custody, and subsequently released on bail while enquiries continue.
“Following concerns raised about the officers’ use of force, the incident was referred voluntarily by North Yorkshire Police to the Independent Office for Police Conduct who are investigating the circumstances.
“Following a review, one officer was subsequently suspended from duty.”
The IOPC is a non-departmental public body which investigates the most serious complaints about conduct matters involving police.
The statement concluded:
“We want to reassure our communities that we take concerns of this nature very seriously, and will continue to work closely with the IOPC.”
The IOPC said in December last year a senior North Yorkshire Police officer had been suspended and was under criminal investigation “for the potential offences of misconduct in public office, improper exercise of police powers and intent to pervert the course of justice”.
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