Police officer who assaulted child spared jail
The officer shoved the teenage six times and at one point said "come on then, you wanna go".
The boy, who cannot be named because of legal reasons, was among a group of six children who were at Monkton Park police station in the early hours of 14 October 2025.
They dialled 999 to ask for police to help after they reported being threatened by people inside a car.
When the boy stood in front of Rusling's police car and asked for a lift home, body-worn footage shows the officer swore at him and shoved him with both hands six times, pulling him by his clothes towards the car park exit.
Wiltshire Police then referred the incident to the IOPC to launch an independent investigation.
Derrick Campbell, IOPC director of engagement, said Rusling made "no attempt to de-escalate the situation".
"The children had been compliant up until the point that the victim, egged on by the other boys, stood in front of the police car to stop it being driven," Campbell said.
"Rusling was initially justified in pushing him away from the vehicle, but what happened afterwards was unacceptable and a wholly disproportionate response."
He added: "The way he [Rusling] responded was totally inappropriate when dealing with a boy of that age and his actions will have damaged trust and confidence in policing."
