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CCTV officer off frontline duties CCTV officer off frontline duties
(30 minutes later)
A police officer from Sheffield shown in leaked CCTV footage punching a woman outside a nightclub has been withdrawn from public duty. A police officer shown in leaked CCTV footage punching a woman outside a nightclub has been withdrawn from public duty.
South Yorkshire's Chief Constable said the Independent Police Complaints Commission would investigate the case. An investigation has begun into the incident, supervised by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).
Meredydd Hughes said Pc Anthony Mulhall was not suspended but was off public duty until the inquiry was complete. South Yorkshire's Chief Constable, Meredydd Hughes, said Pc Anthony Mulhall had not been suspended.
CCTV footage showed Toni Comer, 20, being forcibly restrained after being ejected from a Sheffield nightclub.CCTV footage showed Toni Comer, 20, being forcibly restrained after being ejected from a Sheffield nightclub.
Mr Hughes added: "The Deputy Chief Constable, to ensure independence from myself, has decided that the officer will be withdrawn from public duties but not suspended. Mr Hughes added: "The officer draws a salary from the public purse and we will make use of his expertise and talent. But I don't want him put in a position where his welfare will be put at risk because he'll be dealing with the public.
"The officer draws a salary from the public purse and we will make use of his expertise and talent. But I don't want him put in a position where his welfare will be put at risk because he'll be dealing with the public.
"And also I want public confidence restored."And also I want public confidence restored.
"The public needs to understand that there is more to this story, a full independent investigation must take place in order that the full facts can be placed before the public.""The public needs to understand that there is more to this story, a full independent investigation must take place in order that the full facts can be placed before the public."
Criminal damageCriminal damage
The footage, obtained by the Guardian newspaper and shown on BBC Two's Newsnight, shows Ms Comer and a police officer falling down a flight of stairs outside Sheffield's Niche nightclub. A complaint of assault will now be investigated by the force, overseen by the IPCC.
At the bottom, she is restrained by a group of officers, with the officer she fell with punching her five times - although it is not clear on what part of her body. The CCTV footage, obtained by the Guardian newspaper and shown on BBC Two's Newsnight, shows Ms Comer and a police officer falling down a flight of stairs outside Sheffield's Niche nightclub.
The footage shows Ms Comer, who is from Sheffield, writhing around on the ground, which she says was due to an epileptic fit. Police say she was trying to resist arrest. Police had been called when Ms Comer vandalised a car after being thrown out of the club.
At the bottom of the stairs, she is restrained by officers, with the officer she fell with punching her five times. It is not clear where he punched her.
Toni Comer admitted an offence of criminal damage
The footage shows Ms Comer, from Sheffield, writhing around on the ground, which she said was due to an epileptic fit. Police said she was trying to resist arrest.
She is later dragged to a police van with her trousers round her knees.She is later dragged to a police van with her trousers round her knees.
Toni Comer has admitted an offence of criminal damage "I got quite a few cuts and bruises on my arms and my face and the back of my neck," Ms Comer told Newsnight.
"I really don't believe it. I didn't think they would actually do something like that at all."
On Wednesday, at Sheffield Magistrates' Court, Ms Comer admitted criminal damage to a car, which she said happened after she was ejected from the nightclub, where she had been drinking brandy and had become aggressive.On Wednesday, at Sheffield Magistrates' Court, Ms Comer admitted criminal damage to a car, which she said happened after she was ejected from the nightclub, where she had been drinking brandy and had become aggressive.
'Dead arm'
She was given a conditional discharge and ordered to pay £250 to the vehicle's owner.She was given a conditional discharge and ordered to pay £250 to the vehicle's owner.
Ms Comer says she is now preparing a civil case against the police in relation to her arrest, during which she said she suffered cuts and bruises A South Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "It's a matter of record that the officer involved has fully accepted striking the person in the course of arresting them for an offence for which they were convicted.
"The officer maintains that he did so because the offender was assaulting him."
In a statement, Pc Mulhall said Ms Comer had tried to grab his genitals and knee, and that he had punched her to subdue her and then to "deaden her arm"