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Formal police review after Canterbury skateboarder films confrontation with police officer

17:20, 12 March 2021

updated: 17:23, 12 March 2021

A heated confrontation between a police officer and a young skateboarder has sparked an official review after footage of the clash was posted on Facebook.

The 90-second clip was shared to 11,000 members of the Real Canterbury Residents Group, showing the teenager being physically detained by the officer after refusing to give his personal details.

Police say they were called to the city's Station Road West yesterday afternoon following reports of anti-social behaviour and nuisance skateboarding.

The video footage opens with the officer demanding the details of two teenagers he had approached in the multi-storey car park.

Asked why, the officer tells them they are committing an offence by skateboarding at the council-owned site.

One of the boarders - who is filming the discussion - replies: "You're calling it anti-social behaviour, but we're not here drinking or smoking, we're just doing skating."

The officer then asks "Are you going to let me talk young man?", before grabbing the teenager in an apparent attempt to detain him.

A struggle lasting almost a minute then follows, with the boarder, pleading: "Why are you trying to arrest me? What have I done wrong? I'll give you my details then."

The officer eventually lets go of the teenager, who then appears to run away.

He later shared the video clip on Facebook, accusing the officer of "abusing his power" and saying the incident had left him "shaken and paranoid".

The officer attempted to detain the skateboarder after he refused to give his details
The officer attempted to detain the skateboarder after he refused to give his details

The footage sparked hundreds of comments, with opinion divided about the actions of those involved in the incident.

Kent Police has confirmed a complaint was made about the officer's actions, which are now subject to a formal review.

Inspector Guy Thompson, of the Canterbury Community Safety Unit, explained: "Following recent reports of anti-social behaviour and nuisance skateboarding in the Westgate area of Canterbury, an officer attended Station Road West on the afternoon of Thursday, March 11.

"The officer spoke to two teenagers who were skateboarding in the Station Road West car park and attempted to take their details.

"Kent Police have received a complaint concerning this matter and it will be subject to a formal review. It would be inappropriate to comment further until such a review has taken place."

Coronavirus lockdown rules currently allow two people to legally meet outdoors.

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