Sacked PC says footage has 'destroyed' him

A police officer sacked over his arrest of a teenager has said he has been "destroyed" by body worn footage of the arrest being published.

PC Lorne Castle was dismissed without notice for gross misconduct following his detention of a 15-year-old boy in Bournemouth in January 2024.

Dorset Police released body-worn camera footage of the incident, in which the officer shouted and swore, telling the boy: "Stop resisting or I'm going to smash you."

Speaking to the BBC after his dismissal, the 46-year-old father of three said he "was not proud" of the arrest, but at the time he reacted from "fear".

An independent panel found PC Lorne Castle's actions amounted to gross misconduct, and he was dismissed without notice.

The panel found Castle did not treat the teenager with courtesy or respect, and that his shouting, swearing, finger pointing, taking hold of the boy's face and throat, and suggesting the use of leg restraints were not necessary, proportionate or reasonable.

The panel found the force used to take him to the ground was necessary, reasonable and proportionate.

Dorset Police said a knife was found on the boy afterwards, but beforehand there had been no suggestion he was armed or that a knife had been used.

The force said no further action was taken against the teenager, but he was issued with an out of court disposal for possessing the knife.

Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Farrell said the force was sharing the footage to be transparent and address misinformation.

Mr Castle, who admitted misconduct but denied gross misconduct, said he wanted to appeal against the panel's decision.

An online appeal set up for him by a retired police officer has so far raised more than £68,000.