A man floored by police was heard screaming as officers tied his legs together and desperately tried to bring the incident under control.

Dozens of people watched on as an incident unfolded in King’s Road, Brighton, on Saturday with police arriving at around 9pm

They were called by security staff who had detained a man reported to have been assaulting members of the public.

Police scrambled to the scene with more than four squad cars at the peak and detained a 31-year-old man by bundling him on to the ground and putting him in leg straps.

The Argus: Police officers at the scene in BrightonPolice officers at the scene in Brighton (Image: The Argus)

The man from Brighton was arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm, and further arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker while in custody.

He was later seen wearing what looked like a spit hood over his head as officers loaded him into the back of a police van.

People were crowding around the police as they worked, with some officers physically shoving people away from the area.

Two men were taken to the ground by officers who piled on top of them before they were given a dispersal order.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: “Police were called by security staff in King's Road, Brighton, at around 9pm on Saturday (May 20) after they detained a man reported to have been assaulting members of the public.

The Argus: Police sped to the scenePolice sped to the scene (Image: The Argus)

“Officers attended and a 31-year-old man from Brighton was arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm, and further arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker while in custody.

“He has been released on conditional bail while enquiries continue.

"Two men were also restrained at the scene after behaving aggressively towards the arresting officers.

"They were both given dispersal orders to leave the area."