Policeman caught on camera slapping 14-year-old girl in the face during arrest

Clip watched more than 2.8 million times online

Video footage has emerged showing the moment a police officer slapped a 14-year-old girl in the face during an arrest.

The clip, which has been shared widely online, shows the moment the teenager and a 52-year-old woman were arrested in Lancashire on suspicion of assaulting police officers.

The disturbance was filmed by a passer-by and bystanders are heard in the video shouting at the officer to “get off”.

The footage has since been viewed by thousands online and split opinion as to whether excess force was used.

Lancashire police said the officer used “reasonable force” to restrain the girl who had “attempted to grab the officer’s taser and radio”.

Chief constable Andy Rhodes defended the officer in question and said he had arrived to a "very hostile situation" in which two officers were injured, suffering from a bite wound and a cut to the head.

"It is very easy to judge from the sidelines without the full facts when you’ve never been in a similar situation yourself,” Mr Rhodes said.

"[Officers] do not come to work to be assaulted and they have my full support.

"Perhaps those filming the incident may have better used their time helping the officers to calm the situation."

The 52-year-old woman who was also arrested during the incident remains in custody.