Two Metropolitan Police officers have been fired without notice for assaulting a 14-year-old Black boy during his arrest.
In a report by The Independent’s Nadine White, it was revealed that the officers punched and kicked the child, and then lied about the incident in their statements immediately after.
During an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), constables Alexei Zalesskiy and Conor Ryan were accused of using excessive force on the boy, who was part of a group gathered at Finsbury Park, North London, in April 2021.
IOPC Director Amanda Rowe said: “The force used on this child was neither reasonable nor proportionate in the circumstances. The public must have confidence that when officers are required to use force to detain and arrest members of the public, they will only use the minimum amount of force necessary. To compound matters, they then tried to justify their actions by lying on their initial statements following the incident.
“Their dismissals send a strong message that there will be serious consequences for police officers who use gratuitous violence and are dishonest about their actions. Both officers will also be added to the police barred list, preventing them from future employment with any police service.”
In the gross misconduct hearing it was revealed that officers attended the scene after following reports sighting in a park where a knife had been sighted. Upon arrival, the officers conducted additional stop and searches, but no knife was discovered.
During attempts to disperse the group, the 14-year-old shouted and spat in an officer’s face then ran away, according to the IOP, who was then punched him at least once by PC Zalesskiy and attacked again in the neck, head area, and thigh by PC Ryan. The boy was arrested for assault on an emergency worker and a public order offence.
During a five-month investigation by the IOPC, investigators were presented with police body-worn footage and CCTV recordings showing the two officers punching and kicking the teenage boy. However, no charges were brought against the teenager, and no further action was taken against him.
The IOPC investigation suggested that the officers might have committed assault by beating, but the Crown Prosecution Service declined to pursue charges.
