BREAKING: Probe after police officer is filmed hitting member of the public during arrest

By The Newsroom

Published 17th Dec 2016, 19:09 BST

Updated 18th Dec 2016, 13:14 BST

Police have launched an investigation after an officer was filmed hitting a member of the public from Eastbourne that he was trying to arrest in Newhaven.

Sussex Police says the man had become violent and had grabbed the officer outside Poundstretcher in Newhaven town centre last night (Friday).

There have been calls for the officer involved to be suspended while an investigation by the force’s professional standards department is carried out.

Police say they were called by a member of the public concerned about a man slumped on the ground at 6.30pm.