A massive controversy is rocking Suffolk after 15 year old Rocco Kirkpatrick was left with a life altering injury during a confrontation with police at the First Light Festival in Lowestoft.
The incident, which occurred back on June 21, 2025, resulted in the underside of the teenager's chin being impaled on a spiked metal fence while he was being restrained by officers.
Rocco’s mother, Jade Kirkpatrick, has publicly accused the force of lying and a lack of accountability after an internal investigation by the Suffolk Police Professional Standards Department ruled that officers used no "unlawful or excessive force."
The official police report claimed that the injury was a result of Rocco’s own sudden downward movement as he dropped his body weight while resisting handcuffs.
However, Jade, who has reviewed CCTV footage of the incident, disputes this account entirely, stating that officers pushed and pulled her son in an aggressive and intimidating manner that nearly killed him.
The injury was so severe that it required extensive plastic surgery and has left the now 16 year old with permanent scarring and significant mental health struggles, including recurring nightmares.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has now stepped in to review Suffolk Police’s handling of the family’s complaint after initial internal findings found no misconduct.
The police department defended its actions by describing the festival environment as volatile and hostile, alleging that Rocco had been verbally confrontational and refused to move away from a crowd where fights were breaking out.
Jade Kirkpatrick maintains that her son was a quiet, non aggressive target who was simply questioning why his 14 year old friend was being tackled to the ground by multiple officers.
The family, supported by law firm DPP Law, is currently pursuing a civil claim against the Chief Constable for substantial damages, calling the initial police report a "self serving white wash."
As the IOPC review continues, the case has become a focal point for local discussions regarding police transparency and the appropriate use of force when detaining minors in high pressure public settings.