A senior British officer serving in the Hong Kong police has defended the city's anti-riot team in an interview with Chinese state media.

Chief Superintendent David Jordan told state broadcaster CCTV that his force had been "incredibly restrained" to date.

"The situation on the front line is the most dangerous that I faced in over 25 years because of the level of aggression and violence from rocks, missiles and spears," Jordan, British, is reported to have said by China's official Xinhua News Agency.

Pro-democracy demonstrators have been calling for an inquiry into the tactics of the force for their role during violent clashes over Hong Kong's extradition bill.

Here, Jordan can be seen directing actions surrounded by rank and file Hong Kong officers during a July 28 protest.

During a blockade of police headquarters in June, protesters reportedly carried pictures of Jordan and another British officer, Rupert Dover (also seen in this video, at 3mins 41secs), with the message “Shame on HKPF.”

According to an article in the Times of London, Dover was one of the commanders in charge when more than 150 tear gas canisters were discharged and 20 beanbag rounds were fired during anti-extradition bill protests on June 12.

Vice Media reported that Jordan and Dover became the faces of wanted posters, which were plastered around the city. Some posters had the words “blood debt” written in Chinese.

Jordan has reportedly served as commandant of the headquarters of the Police Tactical Unit, described by the South China Morning Post as Hong Kong’s “toughest cops.”

Xinhua reported that since joining the Hong Kong police in 1992, Jordan has been involved in countless public order events, including working as a major police commander during the "Occupy Central" movement in 2014.