Shocking footage has emerged showing a former police officer laughing amidst rioters during Tuesday night’s violent protests in Southport, where police officers were assaulted and their vans set ablaze.
Ex-Merseyside constable Johnathan Brown was caught on a live-stream grinning amid the mayhem, which saw a police van torched. The chaos ensued as a large group, believed to be linked to the far-right English Defence League, congregated outside a mosque, attempting to vandalise the building.
The mob then turned their aggression towards the police, setting vehicles alight and pelting officers with rocks. A total of 53 officers were injured in the riots, including 49 from Merseyside Police and four from Lancashire Police.
Eight suffered serious injuries such as fractures, lacerations, a suspected broken nose and concussion, requiring hospital treatment. Three police dogs were also injured after being hit by bricks, while a fourth narrowly avoided injury when their handler kicked away petrol.
Brown resigned from the force last year after he was caught purchasing cocaine outside a pub while caring for his three year old daughter. Consequently, he was charged and fined £475 in court after admitting possession of a Class A drug, reports the Mirror.
According to a report from a police misconduct hearing following his resignation, Brown, from Standish, confessed to buying and using cocaine over a period of time.
Chief Constable Serena Kennedy, in her report, stated: “As Chief Constable I have been very clear about my priority around well-being and the support available to officers who admit that they have an addiction issue. Former Constable Brown has at no time sought support from his line managers or the Occupational Health Unit in relation to any addiction issues.”
She further expressed shock that former Constable Brown purchased drugs while caring for his three year old daughter, stating: “As Chief Constable I have also been very clear that this type of criminal behaviour will not be tolerated, and this is at a time when policing is under the spotlight nationally for its behaviour.”
Kennedy highlighted the potential damage such actions could cause to public trust in the police, both locally and nationally, saying: “This officer’s actions could have had a severe impact on the trust and confidence of our communities in policing both nationally and policing locally for our communities here in Merseyside. Hopefully, the fact this matter has been treated so seriously by Merseyside Police will mean that our communities recognise just how seriously I and Merseyside Police value the importance of honesty and integrity.”
Chief Con Kennedy stated that if Brown was still serving, he would have been dismissed for gross misconduct. This decision also resulted in Brown being added to the College of Policing’s barred list, effectively banning him from holding any other policing job in the future.
Chief Superintendent Jennifer Wilson, head of the force’s Professional Standards Department, told the Liverpool ECHO at the time: “Our officers are responsible for upholding the law and in doing so are rightly expected to behave in an exemplary manner at all times, whether on or off duty.”
“Where that does not happen we will take all necessary measures to ensure the individual is dealt with appropriately both through the criminal courts and misconduct proceedings.”
“Having the trust of the public is paramount to us as a force and to allow us to police effectively and I want to reassure the public that the vast majority of our officers and staff do an exemplary job and work day in, day out to ensure that all of our communities are safe and protected.”
