PC guilty of assault after dragging man by cuffs

A serving police officer has been sentenced for striking a man with his knee and dragging him to a van by his handcuffs.

Essex Police PC Glen Calvert, 53, was responding to concerns for the man's welfare in East Road, West Mersea, on 19 May 2024.

He was found guilty of assault at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court and sentenced to 18 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months.

Deputy chief constable Rachel Nolan said Calvert's actions went "far beyond what is acceptable".

Calvert found the man inside a house upon arriving at the scene, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said.

It was determined he should be taken to hospital for a mental health assessment.

However, body-worn footage showed Calvert push the man against a fence twice, causing him to fall to the floor.

This was despite him showing "no obvious signs of resistance or aggression", the IOPC added.

The man was placed in the cage of the police van while handcuffed before Calvert pulled him out, threw him to the ground and struck him with his knee.

Calvert then dragged him along the ground by his handcuffs to the van.

He was placed on restricted duties following the incident.

Essex Police said it would now liaise with the IOPC regarding misconduct proceedings.

"In this case, PC Calvert's actions have gone far beyond what is acceptable and he has now been held accountable for his actions," Ms Nolan said.

"The public must have confidence that when they come into contact with us they will be dealt with fairly and proportionately, and PC Calvert's actions go against this."

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