Complaint regarding excessive use of force - Cambridgeshire Constabulary, January 2019

On 24 January 2019, officers from Cambridgeshire Constabulary attended a residential home in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, catering for 12- to 18-year-olds with ongoing mental health needs and challenging behaviours, in order to deal with a disturbance concerning a number of the residents.

One of the residential care workers subsequently made a complaint regarding the force used during the arrest and restraint of one of the residents, a young woman, and the behaviour of the arresting officer. The care worker alleged that, in the process of using excessive force on the young woman, the officer also caused her injuries, which included a bruise to her forearm and marks to her wrist.

During the course of the investigation, investigators interviewed the arresting officer and their colleague, obtained a number of statements from independent witnesses, and reviewed the officers’ body-worn video footage as well as CCTV from the venue of the incident.

We served the officer with a notice of investigation stating that, based on the evidence, there was an indication that they may have used force which may not have been necessary, proportionate or reasonable, and that they may have acted without self-control, tolerance, respect and courtesy.

The evidence suggested that the officer has been informed that the young woman may have been in possession of weapons such as glass shards and razor blades. The officer approached her with the intention to restrain her for her own good. It appears that the officer was then immediately assaulted and in great pain. We were of the opinion that a reasonable tribunal, properly directed, could conclude that the officer’s actions were appropriate at that moment in time. The officer then took the young woman to the ground using an approved technique and in line with legislation. We therefore considered that there was insufficient evidence upon which a reasonable tribunal, properly directed, could find gross misconduct for use of force.

The evidence also appeared to show that the officer used language that could be perceived as inappropriate when dealing with a vulnerable young woman. Taking into account the circumstances, and the acknowledgement of their behaviour, we were of the opinion that there was insufficient evidence upon which a reasonable tribunal, properly directed, could find gross misconduct for the lack of courtesy shown, but recommended that the officer’s conduct should be addressed by management action. We completed our investigation in August 2019.

After reviewing our report, Cambridgeshire Constabulary agreed to address this issue through management action linked to a developmental objective and action plan, and as learning for the officer in relation to the unprofessional use of language and threats made to the young woman.