Father-of-three pinned down suspected teenage shoplifter for 15 minutes as public rally behind him with £120,000 fundraiser
A decorated former police officer who was controversially sacked for swearing at a knife-wielding teenager has been hailed a hero once again after tackling a suspected shoplifter to the ground in a dramatic citizen’s arrest.
Lorne Castle, 46, sprang into action on Thursday evening when a youth allegedly fled from a Nike store at Castlepoint Shopping Centre in Bournemouth with stolen goods – pinning the suspect down for 15 minutes until police arrived.
The incident occurred on the same day the father-of-three learned he had been granted leave to appeal against his dismissal from Dorset Police – a decision that has sparked public outrage and seen supporters raise more than £120,000 through a GoFundMe campaign.
‘He’s What the Public Want’
Photographs of Castle restraining the alleged shoplifter have been circulating on social media, with members of the public and former colleagues praising his bravery and selfless actions.
Former police officer Norman Brennan, now a prominent anti-knife campaigner who was with Castle before the incident, told reporters: “The shoplifter ran out of the Nike store with a lot of gear and Lorne nicked him. It was a citizen’s arrest because that is what he is now.”
The suspect was detained until the police turned up and arrested him. That’s the sort of police officer the public want.
The Nike store manager reportedly said Castle had been “extremely pleasant and courteous” to the young suspect as he held him down – a stark contrast to the behaviour that led to his dismissal.
Controversial Sacking Over Knife Arrest
Castle was dismissed without notice last month after a misconduct panel found him guilty of gross misconduct during the arrest of a 15-year-old knife-carrying teenager in Bournemouth in January 2024.
Body-worn footage showed the officer shouting at the masked youth to “stop screaming like a little b****” and threatening “stop resisting or I’m gonna smash you” during the arrest.
The teenager had been suspected of assaulting an elderly man and another youth at a McDonald’s, where “staff were so concerned that they locked the doors to protect themselves, the victim and other customers.
A knife fell from the boy’s waistband during the arrest, but Castle’s fellow officers reported his conduct as inappropriate, leading to the 16-month investigation.
Public Rallies Behind ‘Hero’ Officer
The dismissal has triggered an extraordinary show of public support, with a GoFundMe campaign set up by retired T/Chief Inspector Christopher Amey raising £120,000 – including one anonymous donation of £10,000.
Amey, who trained Castle, wrote on the fundraising page: “Their daddy is a hero and the best of us. Not what Dorset Police say he is.
The Dorset Police Federation has also criticised the force’s handling of the case, stating that “many aspects of the arrest and the force used by the officer were deemed to have been justified, proportionate and reasonable by the independent panel.
Decorated Career Cut Short
During his decade-long service, Castle:
- Won the Michael Stannard Community Officer of the Year award in 2021
- Received two Commander’s Commendations for diverting youth from anti-social behaviour and disrupting a drugs operation that seized £15,000 worth of Class A drugs
- Earned a national lifesaving award in 2024 for rescuing an elderly woman with dementia from drowning in the River Avon
- Was commended as a hero in 2017 for saving members of the public from drowning
‘I’m Not an Abuser’
Speaking on LBC radio, Castle said he had received thousands of messages of support but felt people were now questioning his character.
I’ve got a phenomenal family and everyone knows that but people are asking that question now ‘am I some sort of abuser?’ because I attempted to arrest someone who was potentially violent, who resisted and my risk analysis was 100% correct.
The arrest had occurred just two days after a violent machete-related gang brawl in Bournemouth town centre, heightening officers’ awareness of potential knife crimes.
Police Under Fire
Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Farrell defended the dismissal, stating: “I have never been in any doubt that PC Castle’s actions were excessive, aggressive and inappropriate.”
However, the decision has been widely condemned, with one supporter writing: “When robust frontline policing is punished and hesitation is rewarded, something has gone badly wrong, and the public knows it.
Members of the public took to social media to praise Castle’s latest intervention, with Phil Lee writing: “You couldn’t make this up. Well done Lorne, you have the backing of tens of thousands who can clearly see where your dedication and devotion lie, unlike your previous employers.”
Castle, who admitted his language during the knife arrest was unprofessional but maintained the force used was justified, is now appealing his dismissal. The formal appeal process is underway, with Dorset Police confirming they cannot comment further while proceedings are active.
