Gavin Burden, who alleges mistreatment by police officers. Picture by ROGER ELLIOTT DA5164P1A FOOTBALL fan is pressing for a full investigation into an incident at Salisbury railway station during which he alleges he and his parents were subjected to excessive and aggressive treatment by police.

Gavin Burden (30), who suffers from a brain tumour and impaired vision, said his confidence had been shattered by what had happened and he wanted an investigation by the Police Complaints Commission.

Mr Burden, a self-employed carpenter who lives in Queen Alexandra Road, Salisbury, claims he needed medical treatment for problems with his neck and back after his hands were forced behind his back and he was pushed to the ground as he was being arrested and put in a police vehicle.

His mother, who tried to intervene to tell the officers her son suffered a tumour and should be treated gently, claims she was pushed aside and told to go away.

Mrs Burden described how she had stood by helplessly as she saw her husband, a well-known Salisbury businessman, and son "manhandled" by officers.

She and her husband said they had lost all confidence in the police.

This week, Acting Superintendent Ian Hobbs, of Salisbury police, promised the family an investigation, once a letter had been received from the family's solicitor, Richard Griffiths, of Griffiths and Co.

Mr Hobbs told the Journal he was aware the family had made a complaint and that they were not happy with the way it had been resolved.

He said: "If any complaint is passed to me, I will do what is appropriate, and if an investigation is warranted, I will undertake it.

"I am waiting for a letter from their solicitor and the issue is still under investigation. If it has not been resolved, we have a clear duty to see it through."

Gavin and his father Ken, who is proprietor of a long-established Salisbury office cleaning company, had travelled to St Mary's Stadium in Southampton on February 21 to see Saints play Everton.

They returned to Salisbury by train and early in the journey there was some trouble - but, said Gavin, the troublemakers got off at Havant and the remainder of the journey was trouble-free.

However, when the train pulled into Salisbury, a large contingent of police officers was waiting for it.

Gavin told the Journal: "Dad and I got off the train and I was walking along the platform. There were a lot of people about.

"A police officer came up to me and said, 'You owe me an apology'. He was aggressive and said something about me pushing him.

"Because I am partially sighted, I cannot see to either side of me, only in front of me. I tried to tell the officer I was not aware I had pushed into him, and then Dad came up and asked what the trouble was.

"There was shouting and pushing by lots of people and I can recall swearing at the officer, saying I didn't know what he was talking about.

"I never got a chance to apologise. They put my hands behind my back and pushed my head down.

"They told me they were arresting me and Dad. They took us outside, where Mum was waiting to pick us up."

Angela Burden described how she saw a number of police vehicles pull up and officers go into the station.

She said: "I saw some officers come out of the station manhandling Gavin and my husband. They pushed Gavin to the floor and shoved Ken into a police vehicle.

"I went up to ask what they were doing and told them Gavin had a brain tumour, but I was pushed aside."

The two men were taken to Salisbury police station and each was given a formal caution for using bad language, before being released.

Gavin said he had never been in trouble with the police before and the incident had shattered his confidence.

He said: "After an unsuccessful operation to try and remove the tumour, I had to relearn how to do many things, and my confidence also needed building up.

"I don't know why the police were there. I did not do anything to warrant me being treated like that.

"I admit I can remember swearing as I was being manhandled, but nothing else.

"I have to be careful because of my condition. I certainly would not get involved in any trouble."

Because of the family's experiences, Gavin decided to make a formal complaint and went to Salisbury police station, where an inspector took down his complaint in writing.

A few days later, Gavin said, he received a phone call at his home about 9.30pm from the inspector, who told him the officers had been interviewed.

All had denied being aggressive or manhandling the trio.

Gavin said he had received no written reply to his complaint and he was unhappy with the way it had been dealt with and was in the process of consulting his solicitor, Mr Griffiths.

The Journal tried to contact Mr Griffiths but was unable to speak to him.