Accused PC says girl's arrest involved minimal force

The officers intervened when they saw an argument in Front Street, Arnold

A Nottinghamshire police officer accused of strangling a teenage girl in the back of his vehicle had no intention to choke her or cut her air supply, his trial has heard.

PC Kevin Markowski, 46, of Nottinghamshire Police, denies a single charge of intentional strangulation.

Jurors at Lincoln Crown Court heard two officers intervened when they saw an argument on Front Street, Arnold, on 24 August 2022.

Interviews with PC Markowski were read out in which he said the girl was shouting and swearing but he insisted he used the lowest amount of force during her arrest.

The officer said he repeatedly told the teenager to stop shouting

PC Markowski confirmed he and a colleague became aware of the teenager arguing with another group of people.

He said he repeatedly asked the teenager to stop swearing and also warned her: "You need to stop or you're liable to get arrested."

PC Markowski said the teenager was clearly in a rage and replied "are you mad" when he again warned her to calm down.

At that point the officer accepted taking the teenager by the hand and moving her towards his police car with the help of his colleague.

He also admitted at this stage he did not tell the teenager what she was being arrested for, and said she was trying to put her hand into his face.

Body camera

PC Markowski confirmed he applied a single knee strike to get the teenager into the car and using the words "public order" to explain why the teenager was being arrested but she continued to struggle and was kicking her legs outside the vehicle.

At that point the officer said he believed he had no choice but to place the teenager in handcuffs.

"I just had to go in, put my hand at the top of her chest so I could talk to her," PC Markowski said.

He said he did not believe his hands were around her neck and said the location of his hand was "sort of at the top of her breast bone."

"I honestly believe at the time I wasn't choking her or hurting her, that was my honest belief," he added.

During the second application of his hand PC Markowski admitted hearing the teenager say she was being choked.

"I heard that and immediately took my hand away," PC Markowski said.

Jurors heard only part of the incident was caught on a body camera worn by the other officer as PC Markowski did not turn his on.

The trial continues.

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