Thursday 22 December 2011

Met police sacked over Finchley car chase beating


Two police officers have been sacked for beating up three men after a car chase in north London.
In July 2009 the officers were among a group of six who chased a Citroen Saxo into the Grange Estate, East Finchley.
The men, one aged 18 and two aged 31, alleged excessive force was used by the officers.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigated and two officers, aged 37 and 40, have been dismissed from the force.
Two officers have been given a final written warning and two are awaiting misconduct hearings.

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It was the conduct of the police officers which escalated the incident”
Deborah GlassIPCC
Two of the victims were aged 31 and the other 18. One was left with a suspected broken nose and the others sustained minor injuries.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decided not to press charges.
'Deliberate force'
The car had failed to stop when commanded to by the officers.
After a chase it was parked in the estate and the driver fled - he has never been traced.
The investigation revealed two of the car's occupants were forcibly removed from the vehicle.
Neither was arrested but they were forcibly detained without being read their rights.
The IPCC panel found none of the officers was able to account for the use of force, and required standards of behaviour were not met.
IPCC commissioner for London, Deborah Glass, said: "It was the conduct of the police officers which escalated the incident and which led to the officers deliberately and unnecessarily using disproportionate force.
"The outcome of the hearing should give the public confidence that in those cases where the actions of police do cross the line, they are held to account."
"Where the police use their powers to stop people, or to use force, they must do so reasonably and proportionately."
Met Commander Peter Spindler said: "The Metropolitan Police Service expects the highest level of professionalism from officers and staff.
"When an individual falls below this expectation we will hold their actions to account through our misconduct proceedings.
"Regardless of the CPS not bringing criminal proceedings against these four officers, we felt their behaviour was completely unacceptable and amounted to gross misconduct resulting in two dismissals."

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