Essex officer charged following investigation into use of force

An Essex police officer will appear in court this week charged following an investigation by the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) into the use of force during the detention of a man.

PC James Brett, aged 30, will appear in the Colchester Magistrates Court on 3 November charged with wounding or inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent under S20 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861.

The charge relates to an incident on 7 March 2022 where PC Brett allegedly used excessive force against the man after the officer attended a report of a domestic incident in Colchester.

We conducted an independent investigation into the allegation that an officer used excessive force during the detention and arrest of the man, who sustained facial injuries.

On conclusion of our investigation in August 2022, we referred the matter to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), who authorised the charge.