A video of South Yorkshire Police officers using aggressive force against a group of teenage girls on a Rotherham street has triggered widespread outrage.
The footage shows shoves, a baton drawn and swung, girls knocked to the ground, a punch, and Tasers pointed at the group.
What began as a dispersal order for breach of the peace escalated rapidly into scenes that many viewers describe as excessive and unnecessary.
The short clip, shared widely over the weekend, captures an officer telling the girls: “You are being dispersed for a breach of the peace.” Moments later, physical confrontations erupt.
One officer shoves the girls forcefully. Another draws his baton and launches it toward the group. Two of the girls attempt to wrestle it away; one falls onto the road.
A second officer punches a girl who had pushed him, sending her backward to the ground. Additional officers then arrive and point Tasers while ordering people back.
South Yorkshire Police issued a statement acknowledging the public reaction. “The short clip on social media of the police response to an incident in Rotherham over the weekend appears nothing short of shocking,” the force said.
Their Professional Standards Department is reviewing all available footage, including body-worn video, from the full response to a 999 call. The assessment will determine next steps. The force added that officers are expected to act in a “lawful, proportionate, and fair” manner.
