Salecia Johnson, 6, handcuffed by police for throwing temper tantrum at school

A girl of six has been handcuffed by police and thrown in a jail cell in the US after throwing a tantrum at school.

Kindergarten student Salecia Johnson, of Milledgeville, Georgia, is accused of throwing books and toys during the outburst.

According to a police report, the child allegedly knocked over a small shelf which hit the principal of Creekside Elementary School in the leg, injuring her.

She also jumped on a paper shredder and tried to break a glass frame, the report continued

The school called in the police and an officer handcuffed the young girl when she refused to calm down.

She was taken down to the police station where she was charged with simple assault and damage to property.

Salecia’s parents have now demanded that local authorities change their detention policies so that other children aren't treated the same way.

Police defended their actions saying their response to the tantrum was a ‘safety measure’.

Police chief Dray Swicord told local television station WMAZ-TV: “Our policy states that any detainee transported to our station in a patrol vehicle is to be handcuffed in the back and there is no age discrimination on that rule.”

Salecia’s family said the youngster was shaken up by her prison ordeal, with aunt Candace Ruff telling WMAZ-TV that she and her mother found her in a holding cell when they went to collect her.

However, police maintain that she was taken to a squad room, not a holding cell.

Her aunt said: “We would not like to see this happen to another child, because it's horrifying. It's devastating.”

Because of her age, the young girl will not have to go to court.

But in addition to the criminal charges, Salecia is suspended from school until August.