An arrest has been referred to the police watchdog following concerns about police officers’ use of force.
On Tuesday, footage began to circulate on social media of a man being detained on Abbott Road in Tower Hamlets, east London.
Four officers were seen pinning the man down while he insists that he “hasn’t done nothing” and pleads with the officers to “leave him alone”.
A woman, who East London News states is the man’s wife, can be heard screaming “you’re killing him”.
After around four minutes of physical force, the man appears to lose consciousness as a small crowd assembles.
The incident has now been referred to the Central East Command professional standards unit.
Reacting to the widespread speculation regarding the footage, Commander Mark McEwan confirmed that it shows the man being asked multiple times to either produce his driving licence or move his vehicle.
“Having failed to do so, the officer takes out his handcuffs and begins to arrest the man, who resists,” McEwan said.
“I understand how concerning this incident may have looked to those at the scene or people who have viewed social media footage since and it is only right we look in detail at the circumstances of what happened yesterday to ensure confidence in how we police London,” he added.
A Met spokesperson told HuffPost UK earlier that the incident resulted in two officers sustaining minor injuries.
“Officers attempted to speak with a man regarding his car which was obstructing the highway and other motorists,” she said.
“The man declined to move his car and refused to provide officers with his driving licence.
“A 38-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of obstruction of the highway, assaulting police and resisting arrest.”
The man was taken to hospital for treatment and is now in custody at an east London police station, the Met confirmed.
An IOPC spokesperson told HuffPost UK: “We are aware of this footage and are speaking to Metropolitan Police Service about this”.