PCSO who kicked man between legs admits assault

A police community support officer (PCSO) who approached a man from behind and kicked him between his legs has been convicted of assault by beating.

PCSO Paula Fox, 55, was caught on CCTV on 27 February last year kicking a man who was on his hands and knees outside Doncaster's Frenchgate Shopping Centre, according to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

At Sheffield Magistrates' Court on Thursday, Fox, of Carr House Road, pleaded guilty to one count of assault by beating, having previously denied the offence.

She was handed an eight-week curfew and ordered to pay costs of £514. South Yorkshire Police said Fox was suspended from duties and a gross misconduct hearing would be held.

Fox's curfew, during which she would have to remain at home, would run between 19:00 and 07:00 each day and would be electronically monitored, the court heard.

Fox's actions were referred to the IOPC after two members of the public who saw the incident made complaints to South Yorkshire Police.

An investigation was launched and the Crown Prosecution Service authorised the charge against PCSO Fox in July.

Emily Barry, director of the IOPC, said while Fox would have been allowed to use force in some cases, the evidence showed the victim "was not presenting any threat to her or anyone else in the vicinity at the time".

"There was no lawful reason for the force used by PCSO Fox, as has been decided at court today," she said.

Supt Sarah Gilmour, head of professional standards at South Yorkshire Police, said: "PCSO Fox's behaviour falls seriously below the standards we expect from our workforce and does not reflect our values of policing and public service."

The force would "continue to take appropriate action against those who fail to uphold the force's standards and culture", Gilmour added.

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