HAMPSHIRE Police has launched an investigation into a video which appears to show a Saints fan being punched by two officers.
The footage, filmed by a fellow supporter, captures the moment the man is hit outside St Mary’s Stadium.
Hampshire Constabulary last night launched an internal inquiry into the incident.
The largest Saints supporters group welcomed the investigation and said officers must be held accountable for their actions.
The incident occurred after Saints 3-2 home loss to fellow relegation strugglers Charlton Athletic.
It was only three days after police in London clashed with protesters at the G20 Summit.
The footage shows officers, some wearing motorcycle helmets, separating Saints fans from a group of rival supporters.
A man is seen being grabbed from a crowd of Saints supporters by a pair of officers. Two other men, both wearing Saints replica shirts, join in the scuffle as the fan struggles to break free. One of the supporters is heard pleading with the man to stop struggling.
Moments later an officer holding the fan by the arm is clearly seen punching him in the back three times in quick succession.
A witness calls for the police to stop and the officer appears to justify his actions by saying the fan had grabbed his colleague in the face.
A second officer puts the man, who appears to be in his 20s, in a headlock and punches him once in the back as a witness shouts “police brutality”. Match day stewards then step in to help and stop supporters from filming.
Hampshire Constabulary said it had not received any complaints about the incident. In a statement issued to the Daily Echo, a spokesman said: “At the end of the game police were involved in trying to keep rival fans apart. Officers were subjected to abuse and threats and had coins and other objects thrown at them,” the statement said.
“There were three arrests during and immediately after the match for public order and breach of the peace type offences. Detectives from the force’s Professional Standards Department are now investigating the matter from a police misconduct perspective.”
Nick Illingsworth, chairman of fans group The Saints Trust, welcomed the investigation.
“Many people would say this is not appropriate behaviour by the officers to be punching supporters, but others might say it’s not appropriate to be in a fight with police,” he said.
“I feel that every officer has to account for their behaviour and every Saints supporter would like to see this investigated by police to see if reasonable force was used.”
