Two boys, aged 15 and 16 were arrested on suspicion of assault by police in Chichester yesterday (March 22).
A video circulating on social media apparently shows three boys having an altercation with civilian security staff at a high street shop - they then detained all three boys.
Police were called to the store in East Street shortly after 3.30pm to reports of a group of teenagers involved in an altercation.
A shopworker also reported being assaulted.
Officers attended the scene and found that three teenagers had indeed been detained by the security staff.
A 15-year-old boy from Worthing and a 16-year-old boy from Chichester were then arrested by police on suspicion of assault.
They remain in police custody pending urgent enquiries, supported by appropriate adults.
Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of what happened.
UPDATE:
Two teenagers arrested in connection with an incident in Chichester yesterday (22 March) have been released on bail.
Police were called to Superdrug in East Street around 3.30pm following reports of an altercation.
On arrival, officers discovered a 15-year-old boy from Worthing had been detained in handcuffs by privately employed civilian security staff. He was arrested on suspicion of assault.
There is no law in the UK that prevents civilians carrying handcuffs. Anyone who does carry handcuffs should be aware that their use could constitute a crime, unless they can show that using them was reasonable and proportionate in the circumstances.
We can now clarify that a second teenager – a 16-year-old boy from Chichester – was detained by police in the area and arrested on suspicion of assault, possession of cannabis, and using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
Both suspects have been released on bail with strict conditions until 24 June, pending further enquiries.
A full and thorough investigation is ongoing to establish the exact circumstances of what happened; this includes reviewing footage and taking witness statements.
Sussex Police has been in contact with the 15-year-old’s mother and contact will be maintained as the investigation continues.
Anyone who witnessed the incident, the events leading up to it or has any relevant footage is asked to contact police online or via 101, quoting Operation Ashridge.
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