Man injured during arrest - Metropolitan Police Service, November 2017

On 5 November 2017 two tourists were standing by West Brompton tube station taking a picture using a mobile phone. A man on a bicycle approached and snatched the phone from them as he rode past. Two off-duty Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officers walking nearby observed the incident. They pursued the man and one of them pushed him off the bicycle. The man was then restrained and arrested.

During the arrest officers noticed that the man was bleeding and had what appeared to be a significant head injury. He was transported by ambulance to hospital. The injury was not fatal or life changing.

The investigation focused mainly on accounts received from the officers involved, as well as other witnesses. We reviewed CCTV footage but no body-worn video was available. The investigation also considered MPS guidelines on the use of force, as well as the National Decision Model and Code of Ethics that police officers are required to follow.

Our investigators analysed the accounts of the officers and compared them to other known facts, such as injuries received and evidence seized, in order to make a judgement as to what force was used, and whether it was necessary and proportionate to make the arrest.

There was no evidence suggesting that the man intended to stop based on the failure of clear verbal commands from police officers to have any impact on his behaviour.

The officer described the force used as “reasonable” given that his attempts to use other methods – both verbal in the form of commands and physical in acting as a blockade to the bicycle – to prevent the loss of property, loss of evidence, and escape of the suspect had failed. Verbal communication appeared to be unsuccessful and the options for use of force against someone riding a moving bicycle are limited.

Based on the evidence available we found no indication that any person serving with the police may have behaved in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings, or had committed a criminal offence.