The Independent Police Complaints Commission has launched an investigation into a woman’s complaints of excessive violence after CCTV footage showed an officer hit her during an arrest near a nightclub.

The film, broadcast last night by the BBC Two programme Newsnight, showed Toni Comer falling down steps and then being surrounded by officers.

One officer, named as Pc Anthony Mulhall, was seen striking Ms Comer five or six times after claims that she had grabbed him by the genitals. He has been withdrawn from frontline duties, but not suspended, while the inquiry is carried out.

In a statement, Pc Mulhall said that he hit the 19-year-old on the arm “as hard as I was physically able” to get her to release her grip. He admitted using "brute force" to subdue her so that she could be handcuffed.

He was backed up by Meredydd Hughes, the Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police, who said that the officer was only following approved techniques for dealing with violent suspects.

"It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the amount of fight in the dog," he said.

Ms Comer, who had been ejected from Niche nightclub in Sheffield and damaged a car that belonged to a security guard, claimed to have had an epileptic fit. She admitted drinking alcohol before the arrest, of which she has no knowledge, and after viewing the CCTV footage is now considering legal action.

Today, Nicholas Long, IPCC Commissioner for Yorkshire and Humberside, said: “I have seen the CCTV footage and decided it is in the public interest for a wholly independent investigation to be conducted.

“This investigation will look into the circumstances of the incident to determine whether the force used by the officer when making the arrest was justified and proportionate.”

Speaking earlier today, Mr Hughes said that he would welcome an IPCC investigation.

He said: “When I saw the footage I was horrified. What also horrifies me is that this whole incident is being pinned on a few seconds of CCTV.

“This morning I have had the opportunity to see the rest of the footage which shows the rest of the incident.

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