Recommendation, Stop and search, Deptford - Metropolitan Police, February 2018

On 27 February 2018, six Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officers were patrolling Deptford High Street, Lewisham. One of the officers alleged that they sighted two men involved in a drug exchange.

The officers approached the men and detained them under Section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act.

During the search, one of the men was handcuffed and the officers also searched a vehicle belonging to one of the men. No drugs were found. One of the men was also arrested when a credit card was found in his possession, which was issued to a different name. The man was later de-arrested when it was confirmed that the credit card belonged to his girlfriend.

The search caused community tensions with members of the public surrounding the incident.

During this investigation, our investigators obtained extensive body worn video and mobile phone footage for the police stop and search. We also obtained the relevant search records, statements from the two men who were searched and initial statements from all six officers.

Our investigators contacted various independent witnesses, but none provided statements. We also made efforts to obtain further accounts from the officers involved, but they refused to provide further comment to the IOPC.

The video footage and statements available were analysed thoroughly for any evidence of racial discrimination, misconduct or criminality. The lead investigator did not identify any objective evidence that justified the bringing of criminal proceedings or that the officers had breached any Standards of Professional Behaviour.

We shared our report with the MPS who agreed with our conclusions.

Additionally, our investigation identified learning from this investigation which was considered as part of a wider piece of work the IOPC did to study five stop and search cases which occurred in the MPS.

In 2022, the investigation was again considered as part of a wider piece the IOPC did to study stop and search nationally.