Former Number 10 aide whose black son was restrained by 'rent-a-cop' rangers ... trends now
A former Number 10 aide whose 15-year-old black son was forcibly restrained by two 'rent-a-cop' rangers in Superdrug has called for a probe into the use of private security guards.
The boy was detained by the two men on the floor of the shop in Chichester, West Sussex, while he was 'shopping for shampoo'.
Footage released by his mother Kirsty Buchanan on Twitter showed the two men holding the teenager on the ground while they handcuffed him before the arrival of police.
She said: 'This is my 15-year-old black son who was followed while he shopped for shampoo by two council workers called rangers. He was sat on and handcuffed by them. When Sussex Police arrived, guess who they arrested?'
She has since said: 'There needs to be a thorough review of the use of these security guards on our streets because they are on our streets and are completely unregulated.
'What is the process of due diligence by which they are hired? What is the training procedure? What is their remit?,' she said according to The Times.
The boy was forcibly detained by two men on the floor of the shop in Chichester, West Sussex
The boy's mother Kirsty Buchanan was once political editor at the Sunday Express and is a former adviser to Theresa May and Liz Truss. She has now called for a probe into the use of private security guards
Sussex Police said yesterday officers were called to the shop shortly after 3.30pm to reports of an altercation in Superdrug involving a group of teenagers and a member of retail staff.
The force confirmed a 15-year-old boy from Worthing was arrested yesterday on suspicion of assault while a boy aged 16 from Chichester was arrested on suspicion of assault, possession of cannabis, and using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
Both boys have since been released on bail.
It added in a statement: 'On arrival, officers discovered a 15-year-old boy from Worthing had been detained in handcuffs by privately employed civilian security staff.'
The force also said that the act of handcuffing an individual by civilians must be justified, adding: '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.
'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.'
The two men are 'rangers' for the Chichester Business Improvement District, which works in partnership with the city council. The BID said they act as 'the eyes and ears on the street and a reassuring
