Police Detective Convicted of Public Order Offence Following Nightclub Arrest

A high-ranking police officer has been found guilty of a public order offence after he was observed shouting and swearing at his ex-partner during his arrest outside a nightclub. Detective Inspector Mark Portelli, who heads a Dorset Police unit focused on domestic abuse, was taken into custody outside Canvas in Bournemouth during the early morning hours of March 31. The 45-year-old, a resident of Broadstone, asserted in Southampton Magistrates’ Court that his offensive language was self-directed; however, he was found guilty of harassing both the arresting officers and members of the public present due to his conduct. The detective, who also serves as the force’s principal officer for stalking cases, was acquitted of charges related to assaulting three nightclub employees after they chose not to provide testimony. Portelli stated that he commenced consuming cocktails and prosecco with companions across three different establishments starting at 17:00 GMT. He further indicated that he was removed from the nightclub just prior to midnight following an altercation with his former partner. Footage from police body-worn cameras, presented in court, showed him repeatedly uttering expletives that are occasionally employed in a demeaning way to refer to women. Nevertheless, the officer informed the court: “Although I was looking in the direction of my partner, they weren’t directed at her.” “I was chastising myself… I was very embarrassed.” “I run a department to counter these sorts of things and I was being arrested for them.” The court was informed that Portelli expressed his belief that his arrest was unjust, despite his shame regarding his use of profanity. Judge Anthony Calloway stated that the language was aimed at “a particular identified person, a female person who is not in court.” He characterized it as “extreme abuse uttered over a significant period of time.” The court was informed that Portelli, a father of two, would likely face dismissal from the police force following the guilty verdict. He received a fine of £500 and was mandated to pay £620 in costs, in addition to a victim surcharge. Dorset Police confirmed that disciplinary proceedings would be initiated against the officer. Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Farrell commented: “Det Insp Portelli’s actions on the night in question clearly fell well below the expectations of behaviour for our officers and staff. “Members of the public quite rightly have the expectation that our officers and staff should strive to adhere to the highest of standards in their behaviour, even when not on duty.” You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.