A POLICE officer deployed pepper spray after a man found fighting in the street ran at him.

An officer from Durham Police’s dog section was patrolling Durham city centre in the early hours of Friday, October 24, when he came across three young men fighting in the street on Old Elvet at about 1.30am.

He told them to stop but apparently got no response, so went to get his dog from his car.

According to a police spokesman, one of the men then ran at him and he used his pepper spray against him.

The officer called in reinforcements and all three men were arrested and interviewed, although later released without charge.

A police spokesman said the officer used the pepper spray to “protect himself”.

“The use of the pepper spray has been recorded and a report sent to the professional standards department, which is the usual procedure for such incidents.

“After being interviewed it was agreed that rather than bring any criminal charges the most appropriate way to resolve the situation was for the three to apologise to each other and no further action was taken.”

Reports in the student press suggest the men involved were students arguing over a pizza.