Full Breakdown
Police Misconduct Hearing Over September Arrest of Steven Clark
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On May 10, 2023, PC Richard Williams, 44, and a colleague responded to a domestic-argument call at a garden in Porthmadog, Gwynedd. While attempting to arrest 34-year-old Steven Clark on suspicion of common assault, Williams placed Clark in a headlock, punched him nine times, twisted his handcuffs to cause pain, sprayed him at close range with incapacitant spray, and then threw or dropped him into a police van. Clark was taken to hospital, released, and returned to custody. The incident was captured on body-worn and by-stander video that later spread widely on social media.
Background & Context
The force’s professional standards department later reviewed the arrest, focusing on whether the force used was reasonable under the circumstances.
Official Statements & Responses
PC Richard Williams denied wrongdoing, asserting that his actions were “completely reasonable in the circumstances” and that he “did the best I could” during the arrest.
Data & Statistics
- Allegations: Eight misconduct allegations against Williams, including use of a headlock (“choker”), unreasonable spray deployment, and throwing or dropping the suspect into the van.
- Physical actions: Nine punches to Clark’s head or face; handcuff twist causing pain; close-range spray application.
- Legal outcomes: Williams was cleared of criminal charges of intentional strangulation and assault occasioning actual bodily harm after a seven-day trial in Caernarfon, Gwynedd, in 2025. The current hearing addresses only the misconduct allegations.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We accept some force was required, because Mr Clark was under arrest and not under control, and the female officer was on the ground, apparently with Mr Clark on top of her,” — Mr Morley
- “But our case is that the force used by PC Williams was unreasonable.” — Mr Morley