Officer slaps handcuffed woman in Nivelles: judicial and internal investigation opened
A video filmed in Nivelles shows a female police officer slapping a handcuffed woman during an arrest. The Brabant wallon prosecutor's office and police directorate have opened investigations.
Slap during arrest in Nivelles: prosecutor and police investigate
A video filmed by a local resident in Nivelles has been circulating for several days and has provoked strong reactions, according to rtl.be. It shows a woman already being restrained by several officers refusing to board a police van. A female police officer then slaps her in the face before pushing her inside the vehicle. The incident has reignited the debate over proportionate use of force during arrests.
The mayor of Nivelles, Bernard De Ro, viewed the footage before contacting the police directorate. An internal investigation was decided to establish the exact sequence of events. In parallel, a judicial file was opened with the prosecutor of the King for Brabant wallon.
Context of the arrest
The footage allows for reconstruction of the sequence. The suspect had first attempted to flee before being held down on the ground by officers. A man accompanying her was also arrested. Both individuals had been deprived of their liberty following a collision between their vehicle and a van.
Handcuffed, the woman was then pinned against the bonnet of a police car, searched, and then taken towards the van. At this stage, she continued to speak to the officers but no longer showed physical resistance. Tension increased at the moment she was to be put into the vehicle. The man arrested with her attempted, from a distance, to calm her and spoke to the officer just before the gesture. Based on the footage, the slap strikes a person already under control, which raises the question of its proportionality.
Possible disciplinary and criminal consequences
The matter could develop on several fronts. On the disciplinary front, the officer concerned risks sanctions ranging from a formal warning to temporary or even permanent suspension. On the criminal front, the examination of the facts could go beyond the sole traffic incident at the origin of the arrest.
The prosecutor of the King for Brabant wallon clarified that the officers involved had also drawn up a report for rebellion against the suspect. The investigation must determine whether the force used was justified given the circumstances.
Source: Google News BE FR