Pursuit and road traffic collision - Metropolitan Police Service, February 2018

On the afternoon of 18 February 2018 the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) received two calls from members of the public stating they had seen men on mopeds, and a man with a firearm. Firearms officers were deployed to the area, and began pursuing a group of moped riders. During the pursuit, the officers lost the mopeds, before receiving information that one of them was on a nearby road. The police car, when driving towards the moped, drove onto the pavement and into its path. A collision ensued between the car and moped, in which the moped rider suffered serious injury. After the collision, one of the officers kicked the moped rider while he lay on the floor.

Our investigators spoke with witnesses, viewed and analysed CCTV footage and footage from inside the police vehicle, obtained a report detailing the manner of the police officer’s driving, and interviewed two police officers under criminal caution.

We investigated the conduct of the officer who kicked the moped rider. Based on the evidence available, we were of the opinion that the officer could be considered to have a case to answer for gross misconduct for their use of force. We completed our investigation in June 2018.

We also submitted a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). The CPS made the decision not to prosecute the officer for any offence.

The MPS reviewed our report and determined that the officer had a case to answer for misconduct (rather than gross misconduct). They proposed to deal with this the by way of management action. We agreed their proposal was appropriate.

We also investigated the driver of the police car. Based on the evidence available, we were of the opinion that the police driver could be considered to have a case to answer for gross misconduct for their use of force. We concluded our investigation into the driver of the police car in May 2019.

We also submitted a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). The CPS made the decision not to prosecute the police driver for any offence.

The MPS reviewed our report and determined that the officer had a case to answer for misconduct, and not gross misconduct. We agreed with their determination.

The matter was referred to a misconduct meeting, which was held by the MPS in autumn 2019. The chair of that meeting found the allegation against the police driver not proven and no further action was taken.