Police today defended officers depicted arresting a man in a video widely circulated on social media after officers responded to reports of a Covid-19 breach.

A police spokesman said roughly 30 people had been found indoors at the premises, in Pembroke, reportedly without masks or abiding by social distancing.

Several people tried to leave while others hid after officers arrived, with one man becoming aggressive and then confrontational when police moved to arrest him.

The spokesman said police used in force in proportion to the aggressive behaviour, while other revellers “began confronting our officers who moved to disperse them, warning that they too faced being arrested”.

He said police produced tasers, but did not deploy them.

The spokesman said officers were outnumbered and “at risk”, adding: “The video depicts only what happened after the arrest and not what led to it.

“We stand by our officers as throughout the entire episode, they acted professionally, in keeping with the dictates of their training and in compliance with proper police protocol.

“That notwithstanding, a thorough investigation of the matter is now underway.”