The police watchdog has ruled the use of an irritant spray on a man during a struggle at a north-east station was “necessary and proportionate.”
He had been arrested following an alleged assault and was taken to Fraserburgh police station shortly before 10pm on Friday November 16 last year.
A report by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc) said that during his arrest, the 39-year-old kicked an officer in the head.
It was while police tried to place him in a cell at the Finlayson Street facility that he struggled violently and grabbed an officer’s body armour, causing them both to fall.
He refused to let go and another officer discharged the spray into face, but the report said this “had little or no effect.”
The man was sprayed for a second time and he released his grip of the officer and was placed inside the cell.
Pirc ruled the man’s actions posed an “immediate threat” to the safety of police officers and the use of the spray was “proportionate, necessary and justified”.
As part of the investigation, Pirc reviewed statements from those involved and checked both CCTV and body worn camera footage.
The man was charged with a number of offences and was later convicted.