Teenager sustains injury during arrest - Gloucestershire Constabulary, May 2018

In May 2018 Gloucestershire Constabulary conducted enquiries to locate a missing teenager. When they found the young person, attending officers tried to take them home. During the exchange, the teenager tried to leave and was prevented from doing so by an officer, and arrested. The young person complained of pain in their back and an ambulance was called. The hospital confirmed that the teenager had sustained a fracture of the lumbar spine. This was treated with a spinal brace and follow-up appointments to the fracture clinic.

Our investigators conducted a house-to-house enquiry and reviewed statements of the attending officers. Investigators also obtained an account from the young person who had been injured. They also obtained and reviewed relevant policies and procedures alongside medical evidence and witness statements.

The teenager claimed that the officer had pushed them as they tried to leave, causing the injury. The officer stated that the teenager had tried to run out of the property and tried to hit him with their fist. He then pulled the young person by the arm to prevent harm to him and to themselves. This account was corroborated by the other officer present.

Having reviewed the evidence we were of the opinion that the method of force used by the officer, of pulling the teenager backwards in an attempt to prevent harm, did not appear to be excessive.

Based on the evidence available we found no indication that any police officer may have behaved in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings or committed a criminal offence.