Policeman filmed ‘repeatedly punching’ drunk man sprawled on the ground in East Sussex
Cops claims the man from East Sussex was 'violent' and 'grabbed' the officer
A COP is being investigated after he was filmed 'repeatedly punching' a member of the public.
Footage has emerged of the police officer hitting a drunk man who allegedly became violent outside a Poundstretcher store in East Sussex.
Mobile phone footage of the incident on Friday has went viral and calls have been made for the officer to be suspended.
The incident has now been passed onto the police professional standards department.
Local parliamentary candidate Kelly-Marie Blundell has called for a full investigation into the “concerning” footage.
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She said: “Footage taken with a mobile phone appears to show a man in distress being struck by an officer. This is very concerning.
“What we need is a full investigation into the events on the evening of 16th December in Newhaven, to get to the bottom of what actually happened.”
Blundell also added that that incident highlights cuts to community policing and that officers no longer have a relationship with local communities.
At 6.30pm on Friday two community support officers were called by a member of the public concerned about a man slumped on the ground in Newhaven.
But the officers were forced to call for back up when they arrived at the scene.
They claim to have been verbally abused by the man who is also said to have “grabbed” the officer.
In the footage, the drunk man can heard shouting "why are you hitting me?"
But a female officer is also filmed telling the drunk to "let go" seemingly in reference to her colleague who is striking the man.
A 40-year-old man from Eastbourne has since been charged with being drunk and disorderly in a public place and assaulting an officer.
A Sussex Police spokesperson said: “A police officer joined them and they tried to get the man to leave the area and even offered to get him a taxi.
“He then became violent and grabbed the officer.”
Chief Inspector Rosie Ross said police were aware of the video that had been posted online of the man’s arrest.
He added that while no complaint has been received, it has referred the matter to the professional standards department.
The officer also said that approved techniques used in arrests could appear “very robust”.
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