Police officer dismissed after using excessive force to restrain a teenage girl

A police officer who used excessive force to restrain a teenage girl has been dismissed.

PC Kevin Markowski faced a gross misconduct hearing at Force HQ in Sherwood Lodge which ended on Thursday 15 May.

The hearing was open to both the press and the public.

The hearing heard how the officer and his colleague attended an incident in Arnold just before 8pm on 24 August 2022.

The incident involved a 16-year-old girl who was shouting and swearing in the street and allegedly threatened to ‘bang someone out’.  

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

It was then alleged that the officer banged her head on the police vehicle causing injury and put his hands on her throat area on two occasions when restraining her in the back of the police vehicle.

The hearing heard that the force used was “unnecessary and disproportionate.”

The girl was then driven to her mum’s address and is later de-arrested for breach of the peace.

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

Throughout the hearing, the officer said that the force he used throughout was necessary, reasonable and proportionate.

He said that his hands were on the top of her chest and not her throat area and that he did not believe he was restricting her breathing.

The two-day hearing was chaired by Temporary Deputy Chief Constable, Rob Griffin, and two independent panel members. The panel dismissed PC Markowski’s assertions and found he had breached the following standards of professional behaviour: duties and responsibilities, authority, respect and courtesy, use of force and discreditable conduct.

He was dismissed from the force without notice and placed on the police barred list.

Following the hearing, Mr Griffin said:

“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.

“In this case the panel found that PC Markowski’s actions were unnecessary and disproportionate and that his dismissal is necessary for maintaining public trust and confidence in policing.

“As demonstrated by this case, Nottinghamshire Police is committed to holding its officers to account on behalf of the public and should any officer or staff member misconduct themselves, they will be held to account. 

“The vast majority of our employees maintain the highest possible professional standards which makes it all the more important we address instances where an individual’s behaviour has fallen short of these expectations.”