PC who handcuffed 'vulnerable' boy to railings banned

Former police constable Andrew Barton also used "excessive force" during two separate arrests

A police officer who handcuffed a "vulnerable juvenile" to railings after using excessive force has been struck-off following a misconduct hearing.

Andrew Barton, who was a police constable with Norfolk Police, restrained the youngster in a headlock while responding to an incident at a flat on 31 October 2022, a panel heard.

After exiting the building, he forced him to the floor and then handcuffed him to railings outside the property, despite him "not displaying any significant threat".

Mr Barton said he attached him to the railings as he was concerned about an escalating situation inside the flat involving three men and his colleagues.

'Inherent risk of injury'

He later placed the boy inside a police car, leaving him handcuffed and alone for about 12 minutes while he went back into the flat.

Mr Barton maintained his primary concern throughout the incident was to protect the welfare of two juveniles – including the one he had detained - and to protect his colleagues.

But during a misconduct hearing a panel ruled Mr Barton's use of force was "disproportionate and unreasonable" and therefore a "dismissal" was "justified".

It was also said detaining the juvenile in a headlock presented "an inherent risk of injury" and it was not "necessary or reasonable" to handcuff him to the railings.

'High-risk technique'

The following month, during a separate incident on 13 November, Mr Barton discharged his Taser into the back of a man who was already in handcuffs.

Mr Barton said he deployed the "high-risk technique" because he feared the detainee was about to assault his colleague and ultimately flee the scene.

The panel, however, suggested using the taser in such a way "exacerbated the risk" of injury to the suspect as it meant he would not have been able to break his fall.

It added that it would have expected "an officer of PC Barton's experience" to have considered other options before "deploying a high-risk technique".

The panel concluded Mr Barton should be dismissed without notice.