A Wiltshire Police officer has received a suspended prison sentence for assaulting a 13-year-old boy while on duty. PC Daniel Rusling, a response officer, pleaded guilty to one count of assault by beating regarding the incident that occurred in Chippenham on October 14 last year.
In a hearing at Bristol Magistrates’ Court, Rusling was sentenced to eight weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, and mandated to perform community service. The assault occurred outside Monkton Park police station in the early hours of October 14 after the boy, part of a group of six children, dialed 999 seeking help after being threatened by individuals in a car.
Footage from a body-worn camera revealed Rusling using profanity towards the boy, who was in school uniform, and pushing him aggressively multiple times. Fortunately, the child did not sustain any injuries.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigated the case, overseeing both the criminal proceedings and the misconduct inquiry. Wiltshire Police Deputy Chief Constable Mark Cooper expressed apologies to the victim, the victim’s family, the other children involved, and the broader communities for the incident. Cooper condemned Rusling’s actions as criminal, emphasizing the officer’s failure to fulfill the duty of safeguarding a vulnerable person and resorting to violence and offensive language instead.
Cooper clarified that Rusling’s behavior does not reflect the overall conduct of Wiltshire Police or the majority of its personnel, promising to identify and remove individuals with similar attitudes. The police force will ensure to learn from such incidents and communicate a firm stance against such behavior within the organization, to partners, and to communities.
Rusling is set to undergo an expedited gross misconduct hearing to address the matter promptly.
