‘I’ll choke you out:’ West Yorkshire Police officer removed from frontline duties over arrest video

Halifax MP says language will ‘never, ever be acceptable from an officer’

A police officer has been removed from frontline duties after footage emerged appearing to show a man being arrested while being told “chill out or I’ll choke you out”.

The 45-second clip, filmed from inside a home in Halifax, shows two male uniformed officers grappling on a pavement with a man wearing shorts and a T-shirt.

One of the officers appears to say to him “chill out or I'll choke you out” and then “chill out or you're going to sleep”.

The man was arrested in relation to assault offences and was later released under investigation, West Yorkshire Police said.

The footage was reviewed “as a matter of urgency” and has been referred to the police watchdog, the force said after the footage was shared widely on social media.

“We are aware of a video circulating showing the arrest of a man at Spring Hall Gardens, Halifax, on Sunday 16 August in relation to assault offences,” said Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Osman Khan.

“We immediately reviewed the footage and looked into it as a matter of urgency to establish the full circumstances.

“We have reviewed the actions of the officers involved and a referral has been made to the Force’s Professional Standards Directorate.

“Our investigation remains ongoing and we have made a voluntarily referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). The officer involved has been removed from frontline operational duties.

“The man arrested was released under investigation.”

Additional reporting by PA