A POLICE officer has been suspended by West Yorkshire Police after a viral video raised concern about his use of force.

The video, which was filmed at Spring Hall Gardens in Halifax on Sunday (August 16), has been shared widely online across a number of social media platforms.

West Yorkshire Police said the arrest was in relation to assault offences.

West Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) has since confirmed that the footage is being scrutinised as a "matter of urgency".

In response to one post on Twitter, PCC Mark Burns-Williamson said: "This footage has been looked into it as a matter of urgency by West Yorkshire Police.

"A referral has been made to the Force’s Professional Standards Directorate and the officer involved has been removed from frontline operational duties.

"The investigation remains ongoing and a voluntarily referral to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) has also been made."

T/Assistant Chief Constable Osman Khan of West Yorkshire Police said the man under arrest was released under investigation.

“We are aware of a video circulating showing the arrest of a man at Spring Hall Gardens, Halifax on Sunday 16 August in relation to assault offences," he said.

‘We immediately reviewed the footage and looked into it as a matter of urgency to establish the full circumstances.

“We have reviewed the actions of the officers involved and a referral has been made to the Force’s Professional Standards Directorate.

“Our investigation remains ongoing and we have made a voluntarily referral to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC). The officer involved has been removed from frontline operational duties.

“The man arrested was released under investigation.”

Meanwhile a spokesperson for the IOPC said: “We have received a referral from West Yorkshire Police and will make a decision on the level of IOPC involvement in due course."