One police officer to receive 'de-escalation' training after viral footage clash with teen girls in Rotherham

A South Yorkshire Police officer involved in a clash between officers and a group of teenage girls in Rotherham, which went viral online, will receive training on “de-escalation,” it has been revealed.

The force received criticism in June 2026 after footage of a clash between officers and a group of girls was widely circulated on social media. In the video, some of the girls involved were seen on the ground whilst officers had drawn their stun guns.

During a meeting of the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel on July 20, 2026, Kilvinder Vigurs, South Yorkshire’s deputy mayor for policing and crime, said: “One individual who perhaps could have de-escalated at an earlier stage will have the appropriate learning and supervision provided in respect to that.”

Following the incident on June 20, 2026, South Yorkshire Police’s professional standards department reviewed all footage, including from police body cameras which were not shared on social media, and determined the “use of force was proportionate, necessary and justified”.

However, it also highlighted an “opportunity for learning around de-escalation”.

Papers provided to the Police and Crime Panel ahead of the meeting said South Yorkshire Police “recognise the impact images like these can have on public trust and confidence in policing”.

It added that a peer review from another police force upheld the determination that the response was proportionate.

A 17-year-old girl was arrested after the incident on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker.

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