Coast police under fire following arrest

Gold Coast police behaviour is again under a spotlight after video footage of a violent arrest was released to the media.

The video, shot at Surfers Paradise on February 14, shows Brisbane man Paul Tupu-Folasa arguing with police as they arrest his cousin Anthony Natafaly.

After a brief exchange of words, Tupu-Folasa is tackled to the ground before being elbowed and punched by an officer.

After Tupu-Folasa is handcuffed, he spits blood on the ground.

Tupu-Folasa, his brother Charlie Tupu-Folasa and Natafaly all faced Southport Magistrates Court on Friday charged with public nuisance and obstructing police.

The Queensland Police Union quickly defended the actions of officers in the footage.

"These sorts of things don't happen to people who comply with police directions," union general secretary Mick Barnes said.

"The person chose not to and has now formed some sort of opinion as a victim of hard-doing."

Police were unaware of the incident until it aired on the Seven Network on Thursday night.

Gold Coast assistant commissioner Brian Codd said an investigation was now under way and it was important all of the circumstances around the arrest are gathered before conclusions are drawn.

"The footage is a concern," Mr Codd said.

"I can assure you though that we take these things very seriously. The use of force and the legitimacy of our use of force as an organisation is something that is bound by the consent of the public.

"If we lose that consent through inappropriate use we're starting to tinker away at the legitimate role that we, as police, have in serving our community."

The three men charged following the Valentine's Day incident are due to return to court on March 17.

Their incident is one of several to generate headlines since police whistleblower Rick Flori leaked CCTV footage of a handcuffed man being beaten in a Surfers Paradise police station in 2012.

Mr Flori's legal advocate Renee Eaves said despite an ongoing review of police behaviour on the Gold Coast, it was clear to her a problem exists.

"This problem is not about a particular officer. It's the person much higher up that's doing nothing about it continually," Ms Eaves said.

Brisbane-based youth worker Ray Currier - who sustained brain damage after being punched repeatedly during an arrest outside a Gold Coast nightclub in January 2015 - said he feared police were deliberately targeting Pacific Islanders on the Gold Coast.

"I didn't want to make it about racial profiling but the evidence speaks for itself," he said.

"This is the fourth case that I'm aware of. How many are we not aware of?"

Mr Codd denied the racial profiling allegation, saying the only people subject to profiling by police are those committing offences or compromising the safety of the community.