A police officer in Wiltshire has received a suspended jail term for assaulting a 13-year-old boy while on duty. PC Daniel Rusling, a response officer, admitted to one count of assault by beating in connection with the incident that occurred in Chippenham on October 14 last year.
During the sentencing at Bristol Magistrates’ Court, Rusling was given an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and was directed to perform unpaid work. The assault happened outside Monkton Park police station when the boy, part of a group of six children, called 999 for help after being threatened by individuals in a car.
Footage from a body-worn camera revealed Rusling using profanity and aggressively pushing the boy, who was in school attire, multiple times. Fortunately, the child did not sustain any injuries. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigated the case, overseeing both the criminal and misconduct inquiries.
Deputy Chief Constable Mark Cooper of Wiltshire Police issued an apology to the victim, his family, and the community for the officer’s actions. Cooper condemned Rusling’s behavior as criminal, emphasizing the officer’s failure to fulfill his duty to safeguard a vulnerable individual and resorting to violence and offensive language instead.
Cooper stressed that Rusling’s conduct does not reflect the overall values of Wiltshire Police and its personnel, pledging to identify and remove any similar misconduct within the organization. He also assured that lessons would be learned from such incidents and reiterated the force’s commitment to maintaining transparency and accountability within the department.
Rusling is scheduled to undergo an expedited gross misconduct hearing to address his actions.