Following repeated stops and searches of a 16-year-old black teenager, eight Metropolitan Police officers are now under investigation. The incidents occurred between
January and May 2023, with the teenager subjected to six encounters across Tottenham and Stratford. Despite these actions, no further action was taken each time.
Commander Nick John, representing the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards, emphasized the seriousness of the allegations and the force's commitment to cooperation with the ongoing investigation. "We want to increase trust in our communities, both in how we tackle crime and the way in which we interact with the public. Any complaint received by the Met is taken extremely seriously," John stated.
The Haringey Independent Stop and Search Monitoring Group raised concerns on behalf of the teenager and his mother in April and June 2023. Subsequently, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) launched an investigation following a mandatory referral from the Met in September 2023.
Allegations include insufficient grounds for the stop and searches, racial profiling, unreasonable use of force, failure to consider the teenager's welfare, and inconsistent adherence to policing procedures. Four searches involved Territorial Support Group (TSG) officers, while the other two involved local borough command officers.
During the incidents, the teenager was informed he was being searched under suspicion of drugs or theft, allegedly matching descriptions of individuals involved in robberies and knife crimes in the area, according to the IOPC.
Reviewing body-worn video footage and written records, the IOPC identified potential breaches of police standards of professional behavior in five out of six incidents. Consequently, seven Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officers face potential gross misconduct investigations, while an eighth officer is under investigation for potential misconduct, the IOPC reported.
Charmaine Arbouin, IOPC director, stressed the significance of the allegations, particularly concerning racial profiling and repeated stops of a minor. "It's therefore essential that we carry out an investigation - independent of the police - to look at each of these incidents and the actions and decision-making of the officers involved," Arbouin remarked.
The IOPC clarified that an investigation does not automatically lead to disciplinary proceedings. Photo by Callum Darragh, Wikimedia commons.