Investigation into alleged non-cooperation of two key police witnesses – Metropolitan Police Service, February 2023

We decided to carry out an independent investigation into alleged non-cooperation of two Key Police Witnesses (KPWs) when they attended our offices for significant witness interviews. 

The officers had responded to a call about a man on a bridge shouting religious remarks and holding a screwdriver or knife. The officers were sent to the scene and engaged with the man. The man was Tasered multiple times during this interaction. The man entered the water and died later that same day.

Both officers were given KPW status and were invited to attend our offices to be interviewed. The officers did not answer the questions we asked in their witness interviews. 

This behaviour potentially breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour under ‘Duties and Responsibilities’. This states that police officers must participate openly and professionally as a witness in independent investigations.

Our investigators reviewed statements, interview plans and correspondence from the investigation the officers were witnesses in. We interviewed the officers and obtained evidence from witnesses.

We concluded that the officers had a case to answer for misconduct for breaching the Standards of Professional Behaviour. We decided their performance fell short of the expectations of the public and the police service, and that this could be dealt with using the reflective practice review process (RPRP). 

The Metropolitan Police Service did not believe the officers had a case to answer for misconduct but agreed the officers should be subject to practise requiring improvement using the RPRP. 

We carefully considered whether there were any learning opportunities arising from the investigation. We make learning recommendations to improve policing and public confidence in the police complaints system and prevent a recurrence of similar incidents. 

We did not find any organisational learning in this case.