'Nothing short of shocking' - Police probe infamous video of 'officer punching young girls' in Rotherham

South Yorkshire Police has launched an investigation into a video of an officer appearing to punch a group of girls in Rotherham.

In the footage, police can be seen brandishing batons and a taser at the group of youngsters amid a street scuffle.

South Yorkshire Police has described the footage as "nothing short of shocking".

In the video, one of the officers accuses the group of girls of "breaching the peace", ordering them to disperse.

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After becoming embroiled in a shouting match with the girls, one officer appears to have been shoved - and swiftly returns the favour.

More officers race in to intervene, causing more young girls to get involved in the brawl.

As the chaotic scenes escalate, an officer is seen taking out a baton.

One teenage girl can be seen falling to the ground as an officer appears to throw a punch at another girl seen in the footage.

Amid the scuffle, voices of what appear to be male friends of the girls can be heard shouting - before bottles are hurled in the officers' direction.

However, the scenes spiral further after an officer brandishes a taser and appears to point it towards the group.

The dramatic incident is believed to have occurred on a residential street in Rotherham on Saturday evening, with police saying they had been called out following a report to 999.

A woman - who claims to be the mother of one of the teenage girls - shared footage of the brawl on social media.

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She said the girls involved were at the address for a “celebration leaving party” .

The mother wrote: “I can’t believe how the police handled the situation last night.

“Surely trained professionals are expected to adapt their approach depending on a person’s age, vulnerability, gender, disability, or whether they’re sober or intoxicated.

She claimed the actions of officers sparked “fear and distress” to the girls and “[escalated] the situation”.

The mother has called on the force to give a full explanation over what occurred that night.

“Children should be safeguarded, not traumatised," she said.

South Yorkshire Police has released a statement addressing the incident, confirming an investigation has since been launched.

It read: “The short clip on social media of the police response to an incident in Rotherham over the weekend appears nothing short of shocking.

“Our PSD are reviewing this and all available footage, including Body Worn Video, of the full response to the 999 call to understand what happened before, during, and after what is publicly available.

“Their assessment will inform our next steps. At South Yorkshire Police, we want our officers to be professional and their actions to be lawful, proportionate, and fair.”

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