A British police officer who was captured on film apparently kicking and punching a defenceless man was today suspended from public duty.
In the video, the officer, who has not been named, is apparently seen to kick the man in the groin before repeatedly punching him in the face in an alleged attack outside his home in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.
Mr Chris Wilson (26) was then handcuffed by the policeman, who allegedly kneed him in the back and pulled him by his hair to a patrol car.
The officer's colleague, who stood by and watched last month's alleged assault, has also been withdrawn from having any contact with the public.
A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said the officers had been withdrawn from duties which brought them into contact with the public.
"A formal complaint has been received about this incident. It is being investigated by our Discipline and Complaints Department, who have voluntarily referred the matter to the Police Complaints Authority and inquiries are under way."
Mr Wilson, an unemployed joiner, was held overnight in a police cell and charged with being drunk and disorderly. The charge was dropped a few days later.
He said he will sue West Yorkshire police for assault, false arrest, wrongful imprisonment and malicious prosecution. He is also demanding the officer be charged with assault.
His lawyer, Mr Andrew Marsden, of Brearleys, in Wakefield, said he and his client would wait for the internal police investigation to be concluded before they begin civil proceedings against West Yorkshire Police force.
He said: "The video shows something that I certainly have never witnessed before. I have had complaints of this type of behaviour from other clients before but, frankly, I think the video speaks for itself."
Music student Mr Mark Goodwin (21), who filmed the incident, told the Daily Mailtoday that he was left physically "shaking" by what he had seen and had decided to make the video public in order for "justice to be done".
PA