Use of force during a man’s arrest and detention and subsequent treatment - Metropolitan Police Service, May 2018

A man was arrested by police in Ashford Crescent, north London, shortly after 9pm on 9 May 2018, after his vehicle came to the attention of the police. The vehicle made off from police before colliding with a parked vehicle. The man was found by officers near to the scene of the collision, on the driveway of a house. Officers used force while arresting him for driving under the influence, failing to stop and assaulting a police officer. The man was taken to Wood Green Police station where he was found to be unresponsive on arrival, so he was then taken to North Middlesex Hospital for assessment. While at the hospital he became responsive and was deemed to be medically fit to return to custody.

This matter was referred to the attention of the IOPC on 21 May 2018 as a conduct referral and we began an independent investigation. There was an indication that a police officer may have committed a criminal offence or behaved in a manner which would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings. One officer was served with a notice of investigation on 16 July 2018.

We interviewed the police officer who was served the notice, examined body worn video, obtained statements from witnesses and other officers and reviewed available CCTV.

The evidence we obtained indicated that a Metropolitan Police Service police officer may have used excessive force toward a member of the public during their arrest and then again when they were conveyed to hospital after they became unresponsive. The nature of the force used could be described as a strangle/choke hold. The officer admitted to using force as claimed and this was supported by body worn video and the accounts of other officers.

We shared our report with the MPS who agreed that based on the information available a reasonable panel, properly directed, could find a case to answer for excessive use of force and that if found this could amount to gross misconduct.

A misconduct hearing was held between 3 and 6 February 2020 and the panel, presided over by an independent legally qualified chair and assisted by an independent person appointed by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime along with a Police Superintendent were satisfied that the officer’s actions were “necessary proportionate and lawful” and therefore the allegations were found not proven.

We found some areas of learning and reflection for other officers involved in the incident.