A POLICE officer was kicked in the face during a confrontation with a large gang of youths on a housing estate in Witney.

The officer was left shaken by the assault on Saturday which happened as he attempted to detain a suspect after a party in Burwell Hall, Thorney Leys descended into violence.

A 14-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of assaulting police.

Two other boys, 17 and 15, were also arrested on suspicion of violent disorder and for a section five public order offence respectively at the gathering.

All three have been released under investigation.

Officers were called to the Burwell Estate at around 11pm following reports of teenagers at the party causing a disturbance.

On arrival, officers encountered a large group of teenagers.

While a police officer was on the ground detaining a teenager for public order offences, an unknown person has approached the officer and kicked him to the side of the face.

The officer was shaken and left with a ringing sensation in his ears, but was otherwise unhurt in the incident.

Investigating officer PC Talane Smith, based at Witney police station, said: “This was a large scale disorder, and our officer was attempting to arrest an individual.

“As he did so, without warning, someone has kicked him, showing a complete disregard for the officer.

“This offender is unknown as he then ran off after the assault, and so I am appealing for anybody who believes that they have witnessed this, or who knows who the offender is, to call 101, quoting reference number 43180305972.”