A POLICEMAN has been forced to resign after punching a car thief who had crashed into a police vehicle to escape.

Another officer who witnessed the incident but failed to report it has been fined. The officers were disciplined after an internal investigation managed by a police watchdog.

In-car video footage from one of the police cars showed one officer striking the man three times after he had been handcuffed. The arrested man later pleaded guilty to burglary and theft.

Three officers from Greater Manchester Police's Tactical Vehicle Unit, based in Eccles, had responded to a report that an Audi S3, which had been stolen during a burglary at a house in Swinton, had been spotted.

One of the officers found it in Cumberland Avenue, Clifton, and radioed his colleagues. The officer approached the Audi but the driver began to reverse.

More police arrived in an unmarked car and blocked the Audi in. The Audi then reversed into the police car.

The driver of the unmarked police car then rammed the Audi as he feared his colleague who was on foot would be knocked over. But the Audi escaped with police in pursuit before crashing into a garage.

The officer on foot used his CS spray on the thief and then handcuffed him in the presence of the driver of the unmarked police car.

The third officer then arrived. In-car video footage showed him climb over the bonnet of the Audi and strike the driver - who was handcuffed - three times in the body. The driver of the unmarked police car witnessed the incident but failed to report it.

The Audi driver suffered a broken wrist and superficial injuries. He claimed his wrist was broken by the officers a report by the Independent Police Complaints Commission, who investigated the incident, says medical evidence suggested the injury was caused when the Audi crashed.

The officer who struck the suspect had charges relating to use of force, abuse of authority and honesty and integrity proven against him and was required to resign.

The policeman who witnessed it was charged with failing to report the actions of his colleague and was fined four days' pay.

Ms Naseem Malik, IPCC Commissioner for the north west, said: "These officers were involved in a dangerous and chaotic situation. They were trying to arrest a man with a history of offending who was determined to escape.

"However, the bravery and determination they showed in detaining the man was then undermined when one officer acted inappropriately and without justification by striking the man while he was handcuffed. His behaviour was totally unacceptable.

"The actions of the second officer are also a concern. We expect police officers to act with integrity."