After an investigation by police watchdog, a Met officer was caught apparently punching a schoolboy black in the face.
After the December 2012 incident at Tottenham, The Independent Office for Police Conduct began a six month investigation.
The investigators claimed they were unable to rule out the possibility that racial bias played an important role in the actions of the officer, but there was no evidence for ‘overt racism.
Six officers from the police force were patrolling the footpath on December 8. They received reports about knife-point robberies. On the 8th of December, six officers approached Black teens standing close to Park View School’s West Green Road gates.
Police officers selected the 16-year-old boy for a stop-and-search. However, the situation escalated when an officer attempted to place the boy in handcuffs.
The clip is 20 seconds long and can be seen the officer swinging towards the boy at one point. Both end up on the ground.
As the fight progressed, you can hear the onlookers shouting ‘please’ or’record that’.
The footage sparked a Black Lives Matter protest which saw protestors march to the local police station chanting ‘Black Lives Matter’ and ‘F*** the police’.
The watchdog has said an officer has a case to answer for gross misconduct after footage showed him throwing a punch at a teenager (pictured) during a stop-and-search in Tottenham
Met Police reported that the officers were injured during stop-and-search, and they also arrested four teenage boys. They also referred themselves the IOPC.
Two of the officers involved in the incident were hospitalized by the force and the boy was left with ‘facial injury’.
Black Lives Matter organized a protest at Tottenham High Road on the same day. About 100 demonstrators marched to the station holding signs and chanting slogans.
The IOPC stated that the officer was responsible for gross misconduct in breaching standards for professional conduct for the use of force, duties and responsibilities.
According to a spokesman, the force did not use force because it was necessary or reasonable in these circumstances. There were also no reasonable grounds to search the boy. Force will organize a hearing.
“It is also possible that the attitude of the officer towards the boy was considered to be disrespectful.
The 20 second clip was shared widely on social media. At one point, you can see the officer swinging towards the boy. They both land on the ground.
“We looked at whether there was any bias in officer’s decisions based on race and age. However, we could not exclude it. There was also no evidence that the officer was racist.
According to investigators, the watchdog said that another officer, who was also present during the incident and his actions were shared widely on social media, didn’t attempt to de-escalate it and replied to teenagers’ taunts using unprofessional language that might be considered inflamatory.
These experts recommended that he improve his actions and engage in’reflective practices’.
Sal Naseem, Regional Director of IOPC said that police use of force was a serious area of concern in our communities. We recognize the possibility for incidents such as this to undermine public trust in the police.
“It will now come down to the police disciplinary board, which will decide if the allegations have been proven.”
Superintendent Simon Crick is in charge of Haringey policing. He said that video footage from a part of the incident was shared widely on social media and that he knows the serious concern the incident has caused in the community.
The incident resulted in the injuries of three officers (pictured), and four teenagers were taken into custody.
“We are fully cooperating with the IOPC investigation since the inception after referring 2 public complaints as well as 2 conduct cases shortly thereafter.
‘We are aware that the IOPC has directed the holding of a gross misconduct hearing. This will be presided over by an impartial and legally qualified chair.
“Whilst one of these officers in this case may have questions about his conduct, we should remember that at least three other officers sustained injuries, two of which required hospitalization.
I ask my officers do very hard work in difficult situations. If they wish to retain the trust and confidence of their communities, they should act with professionalism and dignity.
“Community confidence can only be sustained when stop and search powers are used in an equitable, professional and effective manner.
“All frontline officers have body-worn cameras to keep a record of all interactions with the public, including stops and searches.
“We work with the communities to resolve local concerns regarding stop and search.”