The mother of a boy who was detained in a Superdrug store has claimed “aggressive” city centre rangers confronted him and “slam-dunked” him to the ground before handcuffing him.

Kirsty Buchanan, a former adviser at Downing Street, shared a video on social media appearing to show her 15-year-old son being detained in Superdrug in East Street, Chichester.

Concerns were raised for the boy’s welfare after two civilian security staff pinned the teenager to the floor and cuffed him. The group who contract the security staff say that they are taking the matter “very seriously”.

Sussex Police say that a 15-year-old and 16-year-old were arrested on Wednesday, March 22, following an altercation and reports of an assault.

Ms Buchanan told The Mirror newspaper: “They [the security staff] started to get aggressive towards them and one of them got into my son’s personal space and he asked, ‘can you get out of my face’.

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“What I have been told is the ranger pushed him and my son pushed back.

“He was then slam-dunked to the floor and they sat on top of him as you see in the video and they put plastic handcuffs on him – the police then arrived and arrested my son.”

Speaking to Times Radio, she added: “When he got to the shampoo counter he was joking around about being followed by these two guys whereupon they snapped, grabbed his arm, threw him on to the ground, sat on top of him.

“They got plastic handcuffs, handcuffed him and yanked his arms up behind his back whereupon my son used some understandably unparliamentary language but also screamed ‘It hurts, it hurts, get off me’.”

The Argus: Superdrug in East Street, ChichesterSuperdrug in East Street, Chichester (Image: NQ Staff)

The social media, now seen by millions of people, sparked concerns for the youngster’s welfare.

The security guards were employed as rangers by Chichester Business Improvement District Scheme which has operated in the city since 2012.

The group’s website states that it will “deliver a team of Rangers, in partnership with Chichester City Council, that are the eyes and ears on the street and a reassuring presence for those in the front line of petty crime.”

A spokesman for Chichester BID said: “Chichester BID is aware of an incident that occurred on March 22 at the Superdrug store on East Street involving a group of young people and two Rangers.

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“Together with Blayde Security, who provide our security services, we are cooperating fully with Sussex Police, who are investigating the matter. We are taking this very seriously.

“We want to reassure traders, residents and visitors to Chichester city centre that we are committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all.”

A Sussex Police spokesman said: “We are aware of a video circulating on social media of a teenager being detained by civilian security staff in Chichester.

“Police were called to the store in East Street shortly after 3.30pm to reports of a group of teenagers involved in an altercation.

“A shopworker also reported being assaulted.

“Officers attended the scene and three teenagers had been detained by civilian security staff.

“A 15-year-old boy from Worthing and a 16-year-old boy from Chichester were arrested by police on suspicion of assault.

“They remain in police custody pending urgent inquiries, supported by appropriate adults.

“Inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of what happened.”

Following the arrest, Ms Buchanan added: “He is relatively calm because he is quite content when the footage is reviewed, the charges will be dropped.”

Questioning the use of private security guards and the police response, she added: “There needs to be an investigation into the police handling of this, for an hour-and-a-half I didn’t even know where my son was or had been taken.”

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Chichester District Council clarified that no council staff were involved in the incident.

The Superdrug store was closed yesterday following the incident but has since re-opened this morning.

A Superdrug spokeswoman said: “An incident occurred yesterday in our Chichester store between Chichester BID Rangers and a group of young males they were monitoring.

“This is now a police matter, and we are offering our full assistance to Sussex Police.

“Our priority is always to keep our colleagues and customers safe, we have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to violence and aggression. The store remains closed due to damage caused.”

Superdrug also reported that an assault had occurred.