POLICE OFFICER MARK PORTELLI SHOUTS AND SWEARS OUTSIDE BOURNOUTH NIGHTCLUB IN PUBLIC ORDER OFFENCE

A senior officer of Dorset Police, Mark Portelli, has been found guilty of a public order offence following an incident outside a nightclub in Bournemouth. The incident occurred in the early hours of 31 March when Portelli, who is responsible for leading a team specializing in domestic abuse cases, was detained by arresting officers outside the Canvas nightclub.

Portelli, aged 45 and a resident of Broadstone, was handcuffed during the arrest. During the court proceedings at Southampton Magistrates' Court, he claimed that the profanities and aggressive language directed at him were not aimed at anyone else but were a reflection of his own frustration. Despite this, he was convicted of harassing both the officers involved in his arrest and bystanders through his unruly behaviour.

The court also heard that Portelli, who holds the position of lead on stalking within the force, was cleared of charges related to assaulting three nightclub staff members. These staff members chose not to give evidence in the case, which contributed to the decision.

According to court records, Portelli had been drinking cocktails and prosecco with friends at three different venues starting from 17:00 GMT. He recounted that shortly before midnight, he was ejected from the nightclub following a disagreement with his former partner. This altercation appeared to be a catalyst for the subsequent events.

Footage from police body-worn cameras, which was presented during the trial, showed Portelli repeatedly shouting expletives. Some of these words are known to be used in a derogatory manner towards women. During his testimony, Portelli explained, “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.”

Despite his claims of unfair treatment, the court found that his language was specifically aimed at “a particular identified person, a female person who is not in court.” Judge Anthony Calloway described the language as “extreme abuse uttered over a significant period of time.”

As a consequence of the guilty verdict, it is anticipated that Portelli will face dismissal from the police force. He was ordered to pay a fine of £500, along with £620 in court costs and a victim surcharge. Dorset Police confirmed that disciplinary proceedings for misconduct would be initiated against him. Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Farrell issued a statement condemning his actions, emphasizing that “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.”