A Wiltshire Police officer has admitted assaulting a 13-year-old boy in a police station car park after the child had dialled 999 asking for help.
PC Daniel Rusling, 30, repeatedly pushed the boy and dragged him by his clothing during an incident at Monkton Park Police Station in Chippenham at around 3am on 14 October 2025. The boy was one of a group of six children in the car park who had called police after reportedly being threatened by the occupants of a vehicle.
When the boy asked PC Rusling for a lift home, the officer swore at him and pushed him aggressively with both hands a total of six times. He then pulled the boy by his clothing towards the exit after the child stood in front of his police car. The boy was uninjured, but the level of force used was deemed unlawful.
PC Rusling was charged with one count of assault by beating, contrary to Section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act, after a file of evidence was passed to the Crown Prosecution Service on 4 April and the charge was authorised on 8 April.
He appeared at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on 21 May where he pleaded guilty. The case was adjourned for pre-sentence reports until 30 June.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct began an independent investigation following a mandatory conduct referral by Wiltshire Police on 28 October 2025. That investigation continues. Wiltshire Police has confirmed an accelerated gross misconduct hearing will now take place.
Deputy Chief Constable Mark Cooper said: “As police officers, our primary function is to protect those most vulnerable in our communities. Clearly, this officer’s actions have gone against everything we stand for.”
A child called the police for help in the middle of the night, and the officer who responded assaulted him. If that does not warrant the most serious consequences, it is difficult to know what would.
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