Man injured during arrest - Metropolitan Police Service, February 2018

On 19 February 2018 Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officers were in an unmarked police vehicle in north London when they saw a man on a bicycle attempting to conceal himself in an alleyway. The man rode off when the officers identified themselves and they pursued him on foot. An officer caught up with the man and asked him to stop. The man rode towards the officer. The officer grabbed the man’s clothing and pulled him off his bicycle. Both fell to the ground. Officers searched the man and found bank notes, a mobile phone and some drug paraphernalia on him. The man was taken to a police station for a further search. On his way to the police station the man said that he had swallowed drugs, so he was taken to hospital. The man was identified to have a fracture of his right tibia following examination from medical professionals at the hospital later that day.

Our investigators investigated the contact the man had with the police before his leg was fractured. We obtained body-worn video footage from the officers, as well as accounts from the injured man and the police officers involved.

We found that officers had acted in accordance with applicable policies and guidance. The use of force used by officers to apprehend the man when he refused to stop was appropriate. As soon as the man indicated that he had swallowed drugs he was treated as a medical emergency and taken to hospital.

Based on the evidence available we found no indication any police officer may have behaved in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings or committed a criminal offence.

After reviewing our report, the MPS agreed.