New South Wales police are being accused of using excessive force during last weekend's Mardi Gras with a video showing a man in handcuffs being thrown to the ground by a policeman, who then stands on the man's back. Police said an 18-year-old man had been issued with a field court notice for the offences of assaulting police, resisting arrest and using offensive language following an incident at the intersection of Riley Street and Oxford Street in Surry Hills on Mardi Gras night. "Following vision of the event being made available to police, an internal investigation will be launched to determine the full circumstances leading up to and surrounding the incident," a police spokesman said. "I'll be calling for an investigation," said the state MP for Sydney, Alex Greenwich. "From what we can see it does appear to be heavy handed and extremely concerning." Leading gay activist Bryn Hutchinson has also alleged that he was kicked and stomped on after he attempted to cross the road. A number of witnesses have backed up his story, SameSame.com.au reports.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 6th March 2013 - 11:06am