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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| YouTube footage 'shows police officer stamping' on man | YouTube footage 'shows police officer stamping' on man |
| (30 days later) | |
| Campaigners against police violence have released footage they claim shows a Metropolitan police officer stamping on the face of a man he was handcuffing in south London on Sunday evening. | Campaigners against police violence have released footage they claim shows a Metropolitan police officer stamping on the face of a man he was handcuffing in south London on Sunday evening. |
| Activists from Brixton Police Monitor have posted a clip on YouTube of two officers arresting the man as he lays face down and apparently unconscious on the public square outside the Ritzy cinema. | Activists from Brixton Police Monitor have posted a clip on YouTube of two officers arresting the man as he lays face down and apparently unconscious on the public square outside the Ritzy cinema. |
| The clip appears to show one of the arresting officers lifting his foot higher than the man's head and bringing it down by his face. It is not clear from the film whether his boot makes contact. | The clip appears to show one of the arresting officers lifting his foot higher than the man's head and bringing it down by his face. It is not clear from the film whether his boot makes contact. |
| Police named the man on Tuesday as Freydoon Baluch, 51, and he appeared in custody at Camberwell Green magistrates' court charged with affray, possession of cannabis, assault on police and outraging public decency. | Police named the man on Tuesday as Freydoon Baluch, 51, and he appeared in custody at Camberwell Green magistrates' court charged with affray, possession of cannabis, assault on police and outraging public decency. |
| During the footage of his arrest, bystanders can be heard complaining that "he stomped on his face". Another claimed that the stamp knocked him out. Neither claim can be verified from the shaky footage that lasts under three minutes. | During the footage of his arrest, bystanders can be heard complaining that "he stomped on his face". Another claimed that the stamp knocked him out. Neither claim can be verified from the shaky footage that lasts under three minutes. |
| Baluch appears to be unconscious throughout the filmed section of the incident as two officers attended to him. One can be seen checking the man's pulse on his neck. | Baluch appears to be unconscious throughout the filmed section of the incident as two officers attended to him. One can be seen checking the man's pulse on his neck. |
| The incident sparked a small protest outside Brixton police station later on Sunday raising some concern that anger at the allegations being made against the police officers could spark disturbances. Some onlookers said they were worried about a repeat of the death of Sean Rigg, a 40-year-old suspect who died in custody at Brixton police station in 2008. | The incident sparked a small protest outside Brixton police station later on Sunday raising some concern that anger at the allegations being made against the police officers could spark disturbances. Some onlookers said they were worried about a repeat of the death of Sean Rigg, a 40-year-old suspect who died in custody at Brixton police station in 2008. |
| "When I arrived at Windrush Square on Sunday afternoon at around 5pm, three police officers were holding this man," said Mona Dohle, 25, a student from Brixton who has established Brixton Police Monitor. "The three officers took him down, laid him on the ground. His face was on the side of the ground and he was wriggling a bit." | "When I arrived at Windrush Square on Sunday afternoon at around 5pm, three police officers were holding this man," said Mona Dohle, 25, a student from Brixton who has established Brixton Police Monitor. "The three officers took him down, laid him on the ground. His face was on the side of the ground and he was wriggling a bit." |
| After that, he became unconscious, she said. He reportedly came round after 20 minutes. | After that, he became unconscious, she said. He reportedly came round after 20 minutes. |
| A spokesperson for the Met said: "At approximately 5.15pm on Sunday 19 August, police attended Brixton regarding a man causing a disturbance. A man aged 51 was arrested at approximately 5.25pm in Windrush Square on suspicion of threatening and abusive words and behaviour and assault on police. | A spokesperson for the Met said: "At approximately 5.15pm on Sunday 19 August, police attended Brixton regarding a man causing a disturbance. A man aged 51 was arrested at approximately 5.25pm in Windrush Square on suspicion of threatening and abusive words and behaviour and assault on police. |
| "After concerns about his health, officers called the London ambulance service. An ambulance arrived at approximately 5.45pm and the man was taken to St Thomas' hospital. He was discharged later that evening and taken into custody at a south London police station." | "After concerns about his health, officers called the London ambulance service. An ambulance arrived at approximately 5.45pm and the man was taken to St Thomas' hospital. He was discharged later that evening and taken into custody at a south London police station." |
| Dohle said the protesters outside the police station had spoken to Det Supt Martin Huxley about the allegations of police violence. | Dohle said the protesters outside the police station had spoken to Det Supt Martin Huxley about the allegations of police violence. |
| "As a result of the meeting, police have recorded this as a complaint against police, and the Metropolitan police service directorate of professional standards is now investigating," a spokesman said. | "As a result of the meeting, police have recorded this as a complaint against police, and the Metropolitan police service directorate of professional standards is now investigating," a spokesman said. |
| During the footage, a bystander can be heard identifying the identification number of the officer he says stamped on the man. | During the footage, a bystander can be heard identifying the identification number of the officer he says stamped on the man. |
| The activists said they posted the film because they are concerned for the man's safety and they want two other bystanders who were also filming the incident to come forward with footage – a young white adult male wearing a white T-shirt, grey shorts and black shoes, and a young black adult male wearing a yellow Umbro tabard, blue basketball shorts and blue trainers. | The activists said they posted the film because they are concerned for the man's safety and they want two other bystanders who were also filming the incident to come forward with footage – a young white adult male wearing a white T-shirt, grey shorts and black shoes, and a young black adult male wearing a yellow Umbro tabard, blue basketball shorts and blue trainers. |
| • If you have any information regarding this incident please contact rob.booth@guardian.co.uk | • If you have any information regarding this incident please contact rob.booth@guardian.co.uk |
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