PC sacked after excessive force misconduct hearing

A police officer has been sacked after a gross misconduct after a hearing found he used excessive force to restrain a teenage girl.

Nottinghamshire Police said PC Kevin Markowski used “unnecessary and disproportionate” force when arresting the 16-year-old who was shouting and swearing in Arnold town centre.

The force said it was alleged the officer banged her head on a police vehicle and twice put his hands on her throat area while restraining her.

The hearing was told Mr Markowski believed he had used reasonable and proportionate force and had placed his hands on the top of the girl’s chest, not her throat.

However, the force said a panel, led by Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Rob Griffin, had dismissed the officer’s assertions after the two-day hearing, which concluded on Thursday.

The panel found the officer had breached standards of professional behaviour in duties and responsibilities, authority, respect and courtesy, use of force and discreditable conduct.

Mr Markowski stood trial accused of intentionally strangling the girl but was acquitted by a jury at Lincoln Crown Court last year, the panel heard.

The hearing was told PC Markowski and a colleague were called to Front Street in Arnold in August 2022 to reports of a breach of the peace.

The force said PC Markowski approached the girl and asked her to stop shouting and swearing before grabbing hold of her arm and leading her towards the police car.

The force said he caused her injury by banging her head on a police vehicle before using excessive force when she was placed inside it.

The girl was then driven to her mother’s address and was later de-arrested, the hearing was told.

PC Markowski was described as “disrespectful and discourteous” when he refused to provide a concerned member of the public with his collar number.

After the hearing, Mr Griffin said in a statement the officer’s dismissal was “necessary for maintaining public trust and confidence in policing”.

He has also been placed on the police barred list, the force said.

Mr Griffin added: “We acknowledge that this was a distressing incident for the girl involved and recognise the ongoing impact it has had on both her and her family.

“We would like to apologise for the trauma caused and hope this outcome has reassured them of the seriousness in which we treat misconduct.”