Footage filmed in UK shows policeman punching suspect multiple times while 3 other officers hold him down (video)

If you think it's only in the third world that civilians suffer assaults at the hands of law enforcement, think again. Disturbing footage believed to have been taken earlier this year in West London has emerged of a policeman repeatedly punching a suspect in the back as other officers hold him down.

The video shows the shirtless suspect pinned to the ground by three policemen and yelling in pain as a fourth rains blows on him.

The man, who calls out in a foreign language at one point in the footage, shouts 'please, please, please' as the officers hold him down.

An officer is heard shouting; 'You spit and I'll f****** hurt you', as the man is pinned to the ground.

Police officers in the UK are allowed to use force in carrying out their duties, as long as it is 'absolutely necessary' and 'reasonable and proportionate' in the circumstances.

The witness who filmed the incident said:

 'It looked like he wasn't going anywhere, they already had him face down on the ground. I thought "can they do that? It went on for quite a while and the man was obviously in pain. He was saying: "I can't breathe". One of them then put his knee in his back. I don't know what had happened before I started filming but someone said the man had stolen something from a shop.'

 More photos and the video, below...