22 March 2023 , 20:25
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This is the distressing moment a black teenager is sat on and handcuffed while his mum says he was buying shampoo at Superdrug.
The woman shared a video on Twitter of her 15-year-old son being sat on by "civilian security staff" in a Superdrug in Chichester, West Sussex, on Wednesday afternoon.
His mum told the Mirror that her son was "slam dunked" to the ground by two men in uniform after they followed him and his friend into the shop.
She said her son's friends called her as he was being arrested and explained they went to the Superdrug to buy shampoo when they were followed in by the men, believed to be "rangers" from the local "business improvement district" which functions independently from local authorities.
The mum claims that after 90 minutes of not knowing what happened to her son, she found out he was taken to Worthing Police Station and arrested on suspicion of assault, where he remains.
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The teenager is being held at Worthing Police Station
A mum says she was told her son was 'slam dunked' to the floorShe told the Mirror: "They [the "rangers"] started to get aggressive towards them and one of them got into my son's personal space and he asked if 'can you get out of my face'.
"What I have been told is the ranger pushed him and my son pushed back.
"He was then slam dunked to the floor and sat on top of him as you see in the video and they put plastic handcuffs on him - the police then arrived and arrested my son."
The woman said she did not hear from her son for an hour and a half.
"He's at Worthing Police Station, but for about 90 minutes I wasn't able to speak to him," she said.
"I finally got to speak to him and he is quite stressed.
"Whereas the rangers that threw him to the ground have gone home to have tea."
The mum said her "lovely, brilliant" son has suffered racist abuse before claimed this was a "new low".
The boy in the video was arrested this afternoon
His mum says she's "disgusted" by the incidentShe said: "My son is a black child who goes to school in Chichester. He is routinely pulled over by police and experiences overt and disgusting racism on the street.
"And this is even a new low for Sussex Police and Chichester Council."
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Chichester District Council has denied the "rangers" are employed by the council and says none of their staff were involved.
"My son is 5'7" and he's 100 pounds soaking wet. He's a skinny lad," the mum continued.
"He gets harassed pretty regularly and stopped by police pretty regularly.
"I cannot believe this and I am so upset and I am disgusted by their behaviour.
"I am white and when people talk about black people's lived experiences I see that through the eyes of my son.
"To see your son go through that and he's such a lovely, brilliant and fun-loving kid and it's just grinding him down and I can't protect him from it.
"This is the last straw and that is why I put it on Twitter because I don't know what else to do.
"Stop doing this to my child. He goes to school, he's a few weeks away from doing this. He's just a little boy. He goes out with his mates and has a lovely girlfriend."
The Superdrug in Chichester (Google Maps)A Sussex Police spokesperson confirmed they arrested a 15-year-old and 16-year-old boy on suspicion of assault.
They said they were called to a shop before 3.30pm following reports of a teenager involved in an altercation and say a shopworker reported being assaulted.
"We are aware of a video circulating on social media of a teenager being detained by civilian security staff in Chichester this afternoon (22 March)," a police statement read.
"Police were called to the store in East Street shortly after 3.30pm to reports of a group of teenagers involved in an altercation. A shop worker also reported being assaulted.
"Officers attended the scene and three teenagers had been detained by civilian security staff. A 15-year-old boy from Worthing and a 16-year-old boy from Chichester were arrested by police on suspicion of assault.
"They remain in police custody pending urgent enquiries, supported by appropriate adults. Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of what happened."
Chichester District Council also issued a statement in response to the video, saying: “We have been made aware of an incident that took place in Chichester city today and we want to clarify that no Chichester District Council staff were involved.”
A Superdrug spokesperson told the Mirror: "An incident occurred today in our Chichester store between Chichester BID Rangers and a group of young males they were monitoring.
"Unfortunately, female staff were also assaulted. This is now a police matter, and we are offering our full assistance to Sussex Police. Our priority is always to keep our colleagues and customers safe, we have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to violence and aggression. The store remains closed due to damage caused."
The Mirror contacted Chichester BID for a comment.