Suffolk Police has been instructed to review the conduct of its officers following an incident where a teenage boy’s chin got impaled on a fence during a restraint. The incident occurred in Lowestoft, involving Rocco Kirkpatrick, a 15-year-old who required plastic surgery after being pierced by a spiked metal fence. Officers intervened to de-escalate tensions at the First Light Festival on June 21, where Rocco had reportedly refused to comply with instructions and had become verbally confrontational.

Despite an internal investigation concluding that the injury was not due to excessive force by the officers, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) deemed the investigation inadequate and ordered a re-examination. The IOPC instructed Suffolk Police to gather additional statements from both Rocco and the involved officers.

The re-evaluation was prompted by an appeal from Rocco’s mother, Jade Kirkpatrick, who expressed dissatisfaction with the initial inquiry process. The family’s solicitor, Iain Gould, welcomed the new review but raised concerns about the same detective constable leading the reinvestigation.

In a blog post, Mr. Gould criticized the police complaints system for allegedly favoring officers over accountability and highlighted the need for genuine reforms to restore public trust. Suffolk Police has since assigned a senior officer to conduct a fresh investigation into the handling of the incident.