A police officer has been suspended from duty after footage emerged of him threatening to 'make something up' to arrest a man in Accrington.
Lancashire Police apologised after the video of the officer swearing and threatening to fabricate an offence was widely shared on social media, Lancashire Live reports.
In the footage, the police officer can be seen stepping close to the man saying: "If you want to f*cking step to me, and push your chest out and something like that then fine, I'll lock you up. We'll do that shall we?"
When the member of the public then protests his innocence, insisting he has done nothing wrong, the police officer adds: "I'll make something up. Public order. Squaring up to a police officer. Shall I do that?
"Who are they going to believe me or you? Who are they going to believe me or you?"
Lancashire Police confirmed they would investigate the matter following the incident, which happened on Friday (April 17).
On Monday (April 20), the force issued a statement saying the officer had been suspended from duty.
The incident has also been referred to the Independent Office of Police Conduct following an initial review by their Professional Standards Department.
In a new statement issued this evening, the force said: "Further to our initial statement about the video footage widely circulating of an incident in Accrington involving one of our officers and a member of the public, we can now provide an update.
"We absolutely recognise the impact this footage has had on public confidence and following an initial review by our Professional Standards Department the officer involved has today (Monday, April 20) been suspended from duty.
"We have also taken the decision to voluntarily refer the matter to the Independent Office of Police Conduct.
"We hope these actions go some way to reassuring the public how seriously we are treating this matter.
"We will be speaking to the man in the footage to keep him fully informed regarding the actions we are taking."
