Key facts
- South Yorkshire police are investigating a video showing officers appearing to shove teenage girls.
- The footage also appears to show officers drawing batons and stun guns on the girls.
- The incident occurred in the Rawmarsh area of Rotherham.
- The police force's professional standards department is reviewing all available footage, including body-worn video.
- Deputy mayor Kilvinder Vigurs stated her expectation that officers uphold the highest standards of professional conduct.
South Yorkshire police are investigating a video that appears to show officers shoving teenage girls and drawing batons and stun guns. The footage, which circulated widely on social media over the weekend, depicts a confrontation in Rotherham where officers appear to use force against a group of young women.
In a statement, the force acknowledged the clip was "nothing short of shocking" and confirmed that its professional standards department is reviewing all available footage, including body-worn video, to establish the full context of the incident. They aim to understand events that occurred before, during, and after what is visible in the widely shared clip.
South Yorkshire's deputy mayor for policing and crime, Kilvinder Vigurs, stated she was horrified by the footage. She emphasized the importance of public confidence in policing, particularly when young people are involved, and stressed that any use of force must be reasonable and proportionate. Vigurs added that her expectation, and that of the public, is for officers to uphold the highest standards of professional conduct, and that any breaches must be dealt with swiftly and robustly.
