The chief constable of Norfolk Police has defended officers who arrested a man in Norwich after he rubbed his face on a police van.

A man was arrested at around 3.30am on Saturday after he rubbed his face on a police van window in Prince of Wales Road.

The man was asked to move away but refused and verbally abused a sergeant; the man was then arrested.

Sarah Jane Mogford questioned the arrest on twitter.

She said: 'I'm sure arresting a man for this is an excellent use of over stretched resources #weird'

Simon Bailey, chief constable, stood by the action.

He said: 'Verbally abusing my officers is not acceptable, and they have my full support for making that point. In this case the abuser was arrested.'

Police constable Jon Parker described the man who was arrested as 'very drunk', adding that the incident was 'very bizarre'.