A police officer was removed from frontline duties today after closed-circuit television footage showed him striking a 19-year-old black woman.

PC Anthony Mulhall, of the South Yorkshire force, said he hit Toni Comer to subdue her so she could be handcuffed during the incident outside the Niche nightclub in Sheffield last July.

Ms Comer, now 20, is pursuing a civil action against the force.

South Yorkshire Chief Constable Meredydd Hughes said the decision to take PC Mulhall off frontline duties was to protect the officer and restore public confidence in the police.

Mr Hughes said: "When I saw the footage I was horrified but it's important we reassure the public there is more to this case than meets the eye."

The Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating.

Ms Comer, who said she suffered an epileptic fit at the time she was arrested, did not require medical attention on the night and police said she did not report to officers she had suffered a fit.

Police had been called when Ms Comer vandalised a car after being thrown out of the club.

The CCTV film shows her and a police officer falling down a flight of stairs outside the club, with the officer landing on top.

Two other officers and a security guard arrived. As the first officer attempted to put handcuffs on Ms Comer, he hit her five times with his fist. It is unclear what part of her body was hit.

Ms Comer was eventually handcuffed and dragged away. She pleaded guilty yesterday to criminal damage and was given a conditional discharge and ordered to pay £250 compensation.

She admitted being drunk at the time of the arrest, about which she had no memory. It was only after viewing the film she began considering civil action.