A police officer used unnecessary, disproportionate and unreasonable force on a man brought into his custody suite in handcuffs, a misconduct hearing has heard. Police Sergeant Rhodri Davies was on duty as a custody sergeant at Swansea Central police station on October 24, 2022 when Tariq Evans was arrested and brought in by officers.
The force Sgt Davies used against Mr Evans was unlawful and amounted to gross misconduct, it is alleged. He denies the allegations. The hearing follows the jailing of another police officer for using unreasonable force during the arrest of Mr Evans shortly before he was brought into the custody suite. For the latest Welsh news delivered to your inbox sign up to our newsletter
PC Jack Williams, 27, was recorded on another officer’s body camera beating Mr Evans after chasing him after an allegation of criminal damage. Williams was found guilty of assault by beating at a trial at Newport Crown Court in August 2023 and jailed for 12 weeks.
A separate investigation was then launched after an officer present in the custody suite alleged that Sgt Davies also used excessive force “for no reason” on the prisoner, the hearing was told. The misconduct panel in Bridgend heard that PC Steve Rees told bosses he believed Sgt Davies used excessive force “for no reason” on Mr Evans in the custody suite.
The hearing was told that after Mr Evans was brought into the station in handcuffs Sgt Davies “took” him to the ground. He then brought him to his feet by the handcuffs in an “unsafe” technique and also struck him several times, the hearing was told.
When he was taken to a cell the custody sergeant then used a “dangerous restraint”, laying his hand in a “C clamp” across the back of his neck and applying pressure, it is alleged. Sgt Davies then struck him repeatedly with his knees, the hearing was told.
Video footage from body cams and inside the police station played to the hearing show Mr Evans being brought into the police station suite clearly distressed and shouting with his hands cuffed behind his back. He is surrounded by officers, including Sgt Davies and appears to be pulled to the ground and struck. Join our WhatsApp news community here for the latest breaking news. You will receive updates from us daily.
An officer can be heard telling Mr Evans “you’ve got to relax” as he is taken to a cell while shouting, before he appears to be struck again and is then left on a bed. Mr Evans can be heard appearing to say “please, please, please” as well as voices shouting.
Voices can be heard swearing and saying “f****** a*******” and “what the f*** is this about” in the footage. Colin Banham, counsel for Sgt Davies, denied that Sgt Davies called Mr Evans a “c***” or that this could be heard on the video.
The allegations in full
Sgt Davies, who joined South Wales Police in 2004 and became a sergeant in 2009, faces the following allegations, all of which he denies:
- That on October 24, 2022, whilst on duty as a custody sergeant at Swansea Central police station custody suite as custody sergeant he breached the following Standards of Professional Behaviour:
- Standard 4 – Use of Force. Police officers only use force to the extent that is necessary, proportionate, and reasonable in all circumstances.
- Standard 9 – Discreditable Conduct. Police officers do not behave in a manner that discredits the police service or undermines public confidence, whether on or off duty.
- It is contended that the officer used force that was unnecessary, disproportionate, and unreasonable and that the force used was unlawful in all the circumstances.
Giving evidence, Inspector Emma Jones, who was an acting detective chief inspector at the time of the alleged incident, told the panel she agreed to a misconduct referral but denied she had a conflict of interest. Mr Banham, representing Sgt Davies, said Insp Jones should never have been involved as she had been previously involved in a grievance with Sgt Davies and was named in an employment tribunal case brought by him.
Chief Inspector Jared Easton told the hearing he had not been on duty on the night of the alleged misconduct but had debriefed officers, including PC Steve Rees when misconduct papers were served on Williams, who was later jailed and is no longer a police officer. Asked if he had been aware at the time that PC Rees and Williams had been friends outside work, Inspector Easton told the panel that he had not.
Panel chair Christopher McKay said it had been agreed by the panel, Mr Banham and Jonathan Walters, representing the police authority, that it was not necessary for Mr Evans to give evidence in person to the panel. They agreed that his witness statement, yet to be read out, and the video footage, was sufficient and that to appear would be distressing for him.
The hearing continues.