Complaints about use of force - Metropolitan Police Service, June 2017

In June 2017, at a political campaign event, a photographer attempted to cross a cordon, created by two volunteer stewards, to take photographs. As the photographer did this, a special protection officer from the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) took the photographer to the ground.

In August 2017 we received a complaint from the photographer about the use of force and opened an independent investigation.

During the investigation, investigators interviewed the special protection officer, examined footage of the incident, obtained statements from multiple witnesses, and reviewed relevant policies and procedures.

We referred the investigation to the Crown Prosecution Service, who took the decision not to prosecute.

Based on the evidence available, the Lead Investigator was of the opinion that a reasonable tribunal, properly directed, could find gross misconduct in respect of the special protection officer for breaching the standards of behaviour in respect of his use of force.

After reviewing our report, the MPS agreed, and referred the matter to a gross misconduct hearing. At the hearing, the panel concluded that there was a case to answer in relation to excessive force used by the officer. The officer received a final written warning.