Man injured during restraint - Metropolitan Police Service, September 2018

On 9 September 2018, Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officers attended a report of a man ‘smashing up’ a house. When they arrived, the officers found evidence of broken items and were told that the man had been drinking and behaving strangely. Officers tried to speak to the man, but he prevented them from entering the house and attempted to escape over a garden fence. They managed to gain entry to the house, where they found the man in the kitchen, apparently using a class A prohibited substance.

The man was handcuffed to the back, which he resisted, He was restrained again later when he tried to stand from a seated position while officers were waiting for a van to arrive to take him to custody. During the second restraint, the man’s arms were pushed into a position that caused his right arm to break. He was taken to hospital, where he was found to have sustained two fractures to his upper arm.

We obtained body-worn video footage and statements from the officers present during the incident, as well as use of force forms completed by the officers involved in the man’s restraint. We also consulted with an officer-safety training expert.

Evidence supported officers’ perception that the man presented a risk in terms of the potential for violence, as well as the significant risk that he may try to escape and evade arrest.

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. However, we were of the opinion that one officer may benefit from reviewing tactical options when pain compliance techniques are not working and to be particularly mindful of this with those intoxicated through drink/drugs, as it is a factor likely to increase their pain threshold.

We completed our investigation in July 2019.

After reviewing our report the MPS agreed and advised the officer would have a learning session with an instructor.