Loyalists have accused the RUC of overreacting, following the release of an amateur video tape showing officers repeatedly hitting a young man with batons.
The incident happened during rioting around the junction of Cambrai Street and the Crumlin Road in north Belfast on Thursday.
In the video broadcast on the BBC, four police jeeps can be seen stopping near a man standing in the middle of the road. The man then appeared to kick the rear doors of one of the jeeps as police were dismounting. Four officers were seen to beat the man with their batons as he lay on the ground.
Loyalist MLA for north Belfast Mr Billy Hutchinson accused the RUC of overreacting.
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The RUC said it would be inappropriate to comment on a selective piece of film footage.