Three people have been arrested, and one charged with multiple offences, after an incident at Southside that was caught on camera over the weekend.
Four Guernsey Police Officers were filmed trying to arrest one man who was seen to be face down on the ground having been sprayed in the face with PAVA.
At least three videos showing the arrest scene from different angles are circulating online, with numerous comments both supporting and condemning the officers’ actions.
At the time of the incident, officers were responding to a report of a drunk driver, said Guernsey Police.
Three men were arrested at the scene – one was charged with drink-driving offences, assault on police, and resisting arrest, while the other two are currently on bail pending further enquiries.
The videos
Bailiwick Law Enforcement has taken the rare step of publicly addressing the incident – saying the Chief Officer had considered releasing the police body cam footage.
That can’t happen at the moment because an official complaint has been lodged, so all evidence must be kept confidential incase it is later needed.
Online videos of the incident have circulated in closed groups and via WhatsApp and other messaging platforms though.
They show the four police officers who were at the scene plus three men.
One man is on the ground being restrained by the police officers, whilst the other two men are filming on their mobile phones while confronting the officers and attempting to assist the man being placed under arrest.
The restrained individual is complaining about stinging in his eyes from the use of PAVA spray, and after one of the men ignores officers instructions and goes to wipe the man’s eyes he and the third man are also sprayed in the face.
On viewing the videos, some people have objected to the police officer’s use of force.
Other people have said they are waiting to see more evidence of how the situation had developed before they make any judgements against or in favour of the police officers.
The Police Chief’s response
Chief Officer Damian Kitchen has been in the island for less than a year.
When he first met the island’s media, he spoke of transparency, trust, and integrity, and being hard on “bad cops”.
He pledged to “root people out, that shouldn’t be in public service”, and committed himself to the transformation of Guernsey’s Police Complaint’s process.
Having taken the rare step of issuing a statement addressing the weekend’s incident, CO Kitchen re-emphasised this commitment to transparency and following the police complaint’s law, and his intention to release the body cam footage comes from this commitment.
“I am committed to being transparent with the community and our officers, and am always willing to quickly answer concerns or issues raised by the public. I am also steadfast in ensuring the police complaints law is followed, as methodically but swiftly as we can in the interests of all concerned.”
CO Kitchen continued: “I gave a commitment during the police complaint’s legislation debate (limited initial scoping) last year that we would remain within the boundaries set, and this remains my stance. Therefore, whilst from the briefing I received I believed there was merit in taking an unusual decision around the early, public release of footage, the receipt of a complaint means I will quite rightly now not do this and will allow due process to continue.”
CO Kitchen went on to voice his support for his officers and stressed the importance of holding a thorough investigation when complaints are made, urging the public to keep comments factual.
“Police Officers do a difficult and at times courageous job. They have my thanks and support for this, and I am sure they have that of the vast majority of the community. It is also quite right that people can raise concerns and complaints and when they do I will always ensure a thorough, transparent and professional investigation takes place.”
Mr Kitchen continued: “It is in everyone’s interests that this happens, and where there is significant public comment and debate I will ensure, as in this case, those issues are looked at quickly. I would ask that comment and information is kept factual and recognises there are often many pieces of a jigsaw to put together prior to any of us having the answer.”
