WARNING: VIDEO CONTAINS STRONG LANGUAGE.

POLICE say "appropriate force" was used to arrest an alleged shoplifter after a video shows the man being tripped by an officer and falling heavily.

A motorist recorded footage of the arrest which occurred in North Road, Darlington, on Monday evening.

The video shows the man, who appears to be unsteady on his feet, argue with officers.

A policeman pulls out a Taser and points it at the man before his colleague trips the suspect, who falls to the floor and is then handcuffed.

Officers were responding to reports of a shoplifter attempting to steal alcohol in nearby Morrisons.

During the alleged incident at the supermarket police say members of staff and members of the public trying to stop the man from stealing were assaulted.

The 30-year-old man was subsequently charged with theft, five counts of assault, one count of criminal damage and one count of obstructing police.

After the video was posted on social media, several people criticised the level of force used by police to detain the man.

One person said: "Videos like this show why some of them shouldn't be allowed a badge and uniform."

But Durham Constabulary say the footage was sent to the force's professional standards department which concluded that the "appropriate use of force was used to deal with this incident".

A spokesman added: "Officers are trained to recognise ‘impact factors’ which are signs that suggest the likelihood of attack by a suspect and how damaging such an attack might be. Several such behaviours are present on the part of the suspect in this footage including tensing, squaring up, leaning into the officer with his head, verbal aggression, and fist clenching.

“Clearly all force used needs to be lawful, proportionate, necessary and justifiable. Durham Constabulary officers receive annual refresher training in regard to how they use force and the training is derived from the National Police Chiefs’ Council Personal Safety Manual.

“Taking a person resisting arrest to the ground is accepted as the safest means of gaining control in order to apply restraints such as handcuffs. Tripping someone up is a legitimate means of taking someone to the ground to achieve that control."

The force added that in this instance the officer tried to keep hold of the suspect as he fell and the suspect did not bang his head on the floor.

"The officer then restrains the suspect on the ground with a minimum amount of force until handcuffs are applied,” he added.