Met officer found not guilty of causing serious injury by dangerous driving

A Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officer has been found not guilty of causing serious injury by dangerous driving following an Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation.

Police Constable (PC) Eugene Acheampong had denied the offence and was acquitted today (5 November) by a jury at Southwark Crown Court following a trial which started on Wednesday.

Our independent investigation, following a referral from the MPS, began after an incident on 3 August 2019, when PC Acheampong was driving a marked police car on Hawke Park Road, Haringey, north London.

We established that PC Acheampong was responding to a report about a theft in the Sirdar Road, N22 area when upon seeing the police vehicle a man made off on his bicycle. PC Acheampong followed the man and was driving above the speed limit when his car collided with the cyclist. The man was transferred to hospital with multiple serious injuries to the head and body.

We found that PC Acheampong has a case to answer for misconduct for breaching police professional standards for duties and responsibilities, orders and instructions and use of force. The MPS will now schedule a misconduct meeting in due course.

• On 31 August 2023, at a misconduct meeting, Pc Acheampong had case proven for breaching the police standards of professional behaviour relating to duties and responsibilities, and orders and instructions. The allegation relating to use of force was not proven and he will receive management action.