A police officer who was filmed punching a suspect multiple times during an arrest in May 2023 has been cleared of all misconduct allegations and will return to full duties. PC Richard Williams, 44, faced disciplinary action after footage showed him striking 34-year-old Steven Clark during an arrest in Porthmadog, North Wales.
Police were called to the scene after receiving a report that Clark was attempting to break into a house while under the influence of drugs and had a history of making violent threats. During the arrest, Clark resisted, and the video showed Williams repeatedly striking him on the side of the head while attempting to restrain him.
Williams defended his actions as 'distraction strikes,' intended to gain control of Clark when he was unable to reach his baton or Taser. He told the disciplinary panel that Clark was resisting and that he was concerned for his safety and that of his colleague. He stated his intention was to momentarily distract Clark to complete the arrest.
Clark, however, testified that he remembered little of the confrontation, stating he felt he could not breathe and that an officer was choking him before the punches began. He also mentioned a previous injury that made certain movements painful and requested to be handcuffed in front of his body, a request he claimed was not followed.
Clark was visibly swollen around his eye and face in a separate clip showing him being led to a police van. Following the incident, an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct was conducted, alongside criminal proceedings at Caernarfon Crown Court, where Williams was cleared of intentional strangulation and assault causing actual bodily harm.
A five-day misconduct hearing concluded with a panel ruling that the allegations against Williams had not been proven. Deputy Chief Constable Nigel Harrison stated that both the criminal and misconduct processes have concluded, and he looks forward to PC Williams returning to full duties. Harrison acknowledged the difficult and dangerous situations officers face while trying to keep the public safe, emphasizing the need for public scrutiny alongside recognition of these challenges.