Police officers used ‘unnecessary force’ on vulnerable woman after Suspension Bridge incident

Two police officers allegedly used “unnecessary force” on a woman in distress who they arrested for trying to jump off the Clifton Suspension Bridge, a police misconduct panel heard.

One of the constables used Pava – artificial pepper spray – on the female in the back of a police car after her colleague stood on the victim’s arm and grabbed her hair and throat during the arrest, the hearing was told.

The pair “laughed at her suffering”, made fun of her and were sarcastic, condescending or antagonistic, it was alleged.

Both officers, who have since resigned from Avon & Somerset police, deny gross misconduct, although they admit misconduct in the incident which was featured in the recent Channel 4 documentary series To Catch a Copper, where a film crew spent four years following the force’s police standards department.

Barrister Alan Jenkins, representing the force, told the opening day of the hearing on Monday: “The two officers were called out to a young lady in distress.

“Their treatment of this woman was appalling. They dealt with her in a way that was brutal.

“They breached a whole raft of standards for professional behaviour and their actions amount to gross misconduct.”

Jenkins said the two female constables, who Bristol24/7 cannot name for for legal reasons, were called to the bridge after 1am on December 4 2021 after the woman, Miss A, who had been drinking and was intoxicated, attempted to climb over the wall and jump and was stopped by bridge attendants.

Jenkins said she was well known to police and had mental health issues, including previous arrests involving violence.

He said there was a ‘force tactical plan’ in place for officers who had dealings with her to follow, such as contacting her mother and considering using emergency police powers to take her to a safe place, but neither officer did this.

Jenkins said the officers handcuffed her hands behind her back and PC A stood on her arm, with the constable grabbing the woman’s hair and then her throat as they took her into the police car.

The barrister said Miss A slid down the side of the car and into the gutter where she intentionally banged her head on the ground three times but they failed to check or ask whether she was hurt.

PC B put a ‘spit hood’ over the victim’s head in the back of the vehicle and then removed it briefly and used Pava spray on her, Jenkins said.

He said they got the woman out of the car and she landed heavily on the ground, before placing her back in the vehicle, pinning her legs by pulling back the front passenger seat and then taking her to Patchway police station where she was placed into custody.

Jenkins said the constables were “rude and dismissive”, and “sarcastic, condescending or antagonistic, laughing at her or making fun of her”.

He said: “They failed to have any compassion and failed to have any regard whatsoever to her mental health issues.”

Jenkins said the officers used more force than was necessary by handcuffing her when it was not necessary, standing on her arm, pulling Miss A out of the car and pulling her arms when they were handcuffed.

He said the two PCs failed to act with self-control or tolerance or treat the woman with respect or courtesy.

“They discriminated against Miss A by failing to make any adjustments for her mental health problems, laughing at her suffering and making fun of her,” he said.

The officers’ body-worn video footage was played to the panel which Jenkins said showed one of the officers telling a colleague: “I told you I would Pava someone.”

The barrister said: “That would be grossly improper for an officer to say, ‘I was planning to Pava somebody today’ as if she set herself a target.

“That is a rather chilling reference to PC B’s approach to policing.”

The hearing continues on Tuesday.

Main photo: Bristol24/7

Read next: Chief constable responds to ‘shocking’ Channel 4 documentary