'I can't breathe': Police restraint incident in Brighton referred to watchdog

Imogen Braddick10 July 2020
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Video footage of officers restraining a man who repeatedly shouts "I can't breathe" has been referred to the police watchdog.

In a video circulating on social media, a man can be seen lying on the ground, restrained by three officers, on a hill behind a police car in Brighton.

Sussex Police said the man was arrested and became aggressive towards officers before being placed on the ground.

Brighton and Hove policing commander Chief Superintendent Nick May said the force understood that some may find the video shocking but added that it showed a "small part" of a much longer interaction.

The incident has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

In the video, the man on the ground says: “Why have you got your arm on my neck? Bro, I can’t breathe.”

An officer replies, saying the arm is on the man’s collarbone, not his throat.

A woman who saw the man being taken to the ground said it was "intense".

The witness, who wanted to remain anonymous, said she did not see what happened before that.

"I have seen people be arrested before, I have never seen anything like that,” she told the PA news agency. "It was really, really shocking. I do not understand why there were three policemen sat on him."

In a statement on Thursday evening, Mr May addressed the video of the Montpelier Road incident and another video which reportedly showed an incident in Hove last week.

On Friday, officers in Hove stopped a man who appeared to be concealing a blade. He was found in possession of a pair of garden shears and arrested.

A further search recovered two kitchen knives and suspected stolen goods, Mr May confirmed.

He continued: "We understand that some people may find these videos shocking but it is important for people to understand the wider context. Both videos show a small part of much longer interactions.

"All police officers are trained to use reasonable force, lawfully and proportionately, if they believe there is an imminent risk of physical harm to either the public or to themselves, and if they cannot otherwise defuse the situation.

"We are reviewing these incidents, including body worn video footage captured at the scene, to identify if any further investigation or learning is required."

Mr May confirmed that the arrest of the man in Montpelier Road had been voluntarily referred to the IOPC for additional scrutiny.

He added: "It is vital people can trust and have confidence in our policing approach, that we are fair, inclusive and that we treat everyone in our diverse communities equally and with respect.

"We meet regularly with community groups and independent advisers to seek their feedback and advice on this but accept there is always more work to do.

"We await the outcome of the reviews of these incidents and will take any appropriate action as required."

Both men were released under investigation, police said.

A spokesman for the IOPC said: "We are aware of this matter and are making further inquiries with Sussex Police.

"We will then be in a position to make an informed decision on the level of IOPC involvement."

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