Merseyside Police reviews video of officer striking boy with handcuffs

Merseyside Police is reviewing footage circulating online that appears to show an officer striking a teenage boy with handcuffs during an arrest in Speke, Liverpool. The force says it received a complaint on Saturday and its professional standards team will examine the incident.

The video shows the officer punching the boy three times before handcuffing him and pulling him to his feet. Another teenager is also seen being pulled from the ground as he is arrested. The clip begins shortly before the blows and does not show what led up to the encounter.

Police said officers had been responding on Friday to reports of about 20 youths in the Alder Wood Avenue area blocking roads with wheelie bins and aiming fireworks at people who tried to move them. The force also said youths had reportedly smashed nearby flat windows, tried to start fires and threatened members of the public.

A Merseyside Police spokesperson said a short clip might not show the full context and urged people not to speculate or share rumours while the circumstances are established. The footage had been viewed more than 40,000 times, the BBC reported.

The incident took place on the night before Halloween, known locally in Liverpool as Mischief Night. Merseyside Police said it was determined to protect the community from serious offences during the period.