By The FirstWest Yorkshire Police are facing significant criticism following the arrest of a 16-year-old autistic girl, after a video of the incident went viral, accumulating millions of views.
The distressing footage depicts seven police officers arresting the teenager, who was crying, reportedly for telling one officer that they “look like a lesbian nana”. In the video, the young girl can be seen being dragged away by the officers by her arms. This has raised particular concern as, according to her family, the teenager suffers from scoliosis, a condition that would make such actions notably painful.
Audible pleas from the girl’s mother, begging the officers to stop, further intensified public outrage towards the force’s handling of the situation.
West Yorkshire Police issued a statement on Thursday about the incident, saying, “Comments were made which resulted in the girl being arrested on suspicion of a homophobic public order offence.”
Amid the rising outcry and demands for accountability, there are reports that the police are now being formally investigated over the arrest.
“We are fully reviewing the circumstances of this incident and ask that people avoid reaching any conclusions about it solely on the basis of the social media video,” wrote the West Yorkshire Police.
It remains to be seen what repercussions, if any, the involved officers may face.
