Police inspector feared boy's video was for terrorism, court told

Dean Gittoes denies assault by beating

A police inspector confronted a teenager filming a police station in case the footage was put online "for terrorist purposes," a court heard.

South Wales Police officer Dean Gittoes, 49, denies a charge of assaulting the 16-year-old by beating.

He was not on duty when he arrested the boy under the Terrorism Act but at the station to pick up a phone.

Newport Magistrates Court heard that he believed people who filmed police stations did so to "to cause trouble".

"It was a sunny day, he was dressed all in black, my belief was he was concealing his face and there was no reason for him to be filming the entrance," Insp Gittoes said.

'Auditing' group

The teenager has told the court he was part of an "auditing" group in which people film police and official buildings. The videos are put online, and interactions with officers highlighted.

Insp Gittoes told the court he believed auditors intended to harass and cause problems.

The teenager was released from custody without charge the same day.

Insp Gittoes was asked about a previous encounter with an "auditor" in June 2021 which was filmed and uploaded to YouTube.

He said on that occasion he had not arrested the man, saying he didn't think he did not think he had "enough" to.

But on seeing the video, and videos of other stations and government buildings in south Wales, he said he became worried.

Newport Magistrates' Court heard Insp Gittoes believed people who filmed police stations did so to "to cause trouble"

"That was when I became aware he was mentioning CCTV, the weakness of the barriers, that's where I became concerned," Insp Gittoes said.

"My concern was, it seemed to be there was a library of buildings that could be targets.

"They were highlighting features that you wouldn't pick up from Google maps, commenting on weaknesses or strengths."

He said he raised concerns with his superiors about the guidance on auditors, saying he "didn't think it was accurate".

'Dangerous scenarios'

The court heard officers were told to let "auditors" film.

Insp Gittoes told the court he felt that that brought about "dangerous scenarios".

The court heard a recording from the boy's phone in which the officer could be heard talking.

"Six weeks ago I dealt with someone like this and the bosses so far think it's a joke," he could be heard saying.

"Anyone I catch now I don't give them a chance."

He said there were 36,000 people insulting him on the internet.

The court heard Insp Gittoes had worked for South Wales Police for 24 years and had no record of misconduct.

Transcripts of his police interview were read to the court, where Insp Gittoes said he regretted calling the boy an "internet freak".

He said the remark was made in the heat of the moment but he stood by his handling of the incident, believing the teenager was a threat.

The trial, presided over by Judge Sophie Toms, is expected to finish on Wednesday.

The matter will be subject to a separate investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.