A POLICE officer has been charged with kicking a suspect in the head and jabbing him in the eye with his work radio while on duty.

PC Edward Prince, 30, who works for the borough's police force, has appeared in court accused of attacking Nyrone Games on November 6, 2009.

He was one of more than a dozen officers who were involved in a dramatic operation to arrest Games, who was wanted for allegedly breaching the terms of his licence.

Police swooped near the Esso petrol garage in Brighton Road and restrained Games, who later had to be taken to hospital with a facial injury.

It is alleged that Prince kicked the man in the head before jabbing him in the eye with his police radio.

The officer denied one charge of ABH when he appeared at the City of Westminster Magistrates' Court last Thursday.

He was released on unconditional bail and is due back in the same court on February 17.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) launched an investigation after receiving two complaints about "excessive force" being used during the arrest.

They studied CCTV footage from the area as well as a video recording of the arrest from a mobile phone during their inquiries.

PC Prince and another colleague were placed on "restricted duties" during the investigation.

It was then passed on to the Metropolitan Police Complaints Board, which presented its findings to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in June, which reviewed the file.

Games, 27, who is from the Lewisham area, was charged with affray following his arrest but the case was later discontinued due to a lack of evidence.

PC Prince remains on restricted duties until the conclusion of his case, when the police will then decide on whether to pursue any disciplinary proceedings.