An Edinburgh police officer has been suspended over allegations he assaulted a handcuffed teenager

A police officer has been suspended over allegations he broke a handcuffed teenager’s nose and jaw by punching him.

The incident is believed to have occurred in the Edinburgh area after a 17-year-old was thrown off a bus for being drunk. It is believed the officer then took the boy home to his parents’ house rather than the police station because of his injuries, Daily Record reports.

An investigation also includes checking the accuracy of information in documents related to the arrest. Police Scotland have confirmed an investigation has been launched and the matter has been referred to the Professional Standards Department (PSD).

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A source said: “The incident came to light after the parents of the teenager concerned lodged a complaint.

“The boy was clearly acting out and lashing out, but officers are expected to be able to deal with such situations professionally.

“There are a number of restraint techniques that can be used, but you cannot punch someone in the face while handcuffed, as allegedly happened here. The allegation is that the officer panicked after noticing the teen’s injuries and decided not to take him into custody, but instead took him to his parents’ house.

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“It is alleged that he then misrepresented the incident in the documents, so this is serious matter.”

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “We have received a complaint and the circumstances have been referred to the Police Investigation and Review Commissioner by Police Scotland’s professional standards department.”

The alleged attack is the latest in a series of scandals at Police Scotland.

In April it was announced that two senior detectives had been suspended over allegations that they had passed information to an organized crime group. The men are believed to be from Police Scotland’s Organized Crime and Counter Terrorism Unit.

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A full investigation has been launched into the claims, which focus on the Scottish Police College in Tulliallan, Fife. The PSD-led investigation searched several addresses across central Scotland.

The PSD investigates complaints from the public about the behavior of officers and investigates allegations of crime and corruption within the police force. In 2023, a total of 15 officers at Police Scotland were dismissed or resigned after being accused of serious misconduct.