A SHOCKING video has emerged showing a man being punched and kicked by police during an apparently unprovoked attack in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley.

UPDATE: Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers said the police officers involved would be “completely vindicated” when the facts emerged.

“Having spoken with police familiar with the incident, I can confirm all police involved acted in an entirely professional, appropriate and responsible manner and their actions will be vindicated and put in context when all the evidence of this matter becomes public,” he said.

“I am informed the brief few seconds of footage that have been filmed by a bystander do not accurately portray or represent the entirety of the police interaction with the offender.”

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EARLIER: The video shows a man in a maroon suit in the alleyway next to the Fortitude Valley nightclub The Beat speaking with three police officers about 11pm Friday night.

The man is then suddenly punched by one of the officers, reeling back.

It then appears a further scuffle next to the wall takes place.

Further footage shows the man being kicked repeatedly by a second officer before being taken away in a police van in cuffs.

Joe Ritson, 24, said he was walking through the entertainment precinct with his friend when he saw the confrontation.

“I had a feeling something was going on, I don’t know why I was filming,” he said.

“He was just standing there, we were watching for a good minute or two, when it happened.”

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Mr Ritson said he approached police afterwards and told them he had recorded the incident.

“They said f*** off, we’ll arrest you too.”

He said he yelled out to the man being arrested he would try to do something.

“I was really worried and shocked … then I woke up to see the Queensland Police Facebook page. They were bragging about all of these arrests they made overnight but it really questions how legitimate they really are.”

Police have launched an investigation into the incident.

Brisbane Region Acting Assistant Commissioner Allan McCarthy said the incident, involving three officers and a member of the public, had been referred to the Ethical Standards Command.

“It is important that members of the community have confidence in their police, and that is why all members of the Queensland Police Service are expected to act professionally and ethically in accordance with the Service’s high standards at all times,” he said.

“In keeping with our commitment to high standards of behaviour, transparency and accountability, the QPS regularly informs the public about investigations of this nature.”

Acting Assistant Commissioner McCarthy said the investigation did not mean any allegations or complaints about the officers had been substantiated.

“It is important not to pre-empt the outcome, however the circumstances will be investigated thoroughly to determine if the officers have acted in accordance with the high expectations of the Service,” he said.

“Policing can be a complex and dangerous job, and the Service also provides officers with appropriate training to deal with a range of situations, and that is why the QPS has a set of guidelines that govern the use of force options available to officers.”







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