Footage of Metropolitan Police officers allegedly throwing punches at a teenage boy during an arrest has prompted an outrage.
During the incident in southeast London on Friday, an onlooker claimed the youngster was being ‘bashed up.’
People on social media dubbed it ‘outrageous,’ claiming that the force used was excessive.
Body-worn video evidence will be examined, according to the Met, and any use of force by cops must be deemed necessary and proportionate.
According to a spokeswoman, the scenario arose after a child was robbed and threatened with a bottle by a gang of males.
Officers went to a residence in Abbey Wood after receiving information and discovered the stolen items.
The 16-year-old boy attempted to flee the scene and was apprehended, but another teenage boy allegedly assaulted officers, leaving two with minor injuries.
‘Hey Met Police, just wondering if this is reasonable and appropriate use of force to detain a 16-year-old child? Kicking and punching???’ said Carina White, a media pundit, who shared the footage on Twitter.
The teenager had ‘gone to see if his friend was OK as he saw police in his garden and this is what the end result was’, she continued, adding that ‘The police weren’t even there for him.’
One Twitter user responded to her Tweet by saying, ‘It’s the fact that he’s down and they’re still dropping blows, that gets me fuming.
‘Is he an “apprehended suspect” or is he an opp? Because based on this vid, it look like road beef, not an arrest.’
‘This is outrageous and must be investigated,’ wrote another.
‘Police were called on Friday, 10 June, to a report of a child robbed by a group of males in the Abbey Wood area,’ a Metropolitan Police spokesperson told Metro.co.uk. One of the individuals allegedly threatened the victim with a bottle.
‘Following police enquiries, officers attended an address in Abbey Wood to make arrest enquiries.
‘Property reported as stolen during the robbery was recovered from the address. We are not releasing the road name to protect the identity of the youth arrested.
‘A 16-year-old male [A] sought to make off from the address but was ‘detained and arrested by officers on suspicion of robbery and possession of an offensive weapon. He has been bailed pending further enquiries.
‘Another male entered the premises and assaulted police officers. This 16-year-old [B] was arrested on suspicion of common assault of an emergency worker. He has been released under investigation.
‘Two police officers sustained minor injuries. They did not require hospital treatment.
‘We are aware of video footage published online, which shows part of the incident in which officers used force to detain the suspects.
‘This will be assessed, along with the officers’ body-worn video footage, by officers from the Directorate of Professional Standards.
‘All Met officers know that any use of force must be necessary and proportionate, and that they will be required to account for their actions.’