Following an investigation managed by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), six MPS officers from Enfield have been subject to disciplinary proceedings. At a MPS misconduct hearing which concluded yesterday (Tuesday) a detective sergeant has been demoted to detective constable and five police constables have been formally reprimanded.
The officers all faced allegations of using excessive force and discreditable conduct in relation to an incident on 3 June 2008, when they conducted an interception on a suspect stolen car being driven by a man on Meridian Way in Edmonton. The hearing found the officers had all breached the police code for discreditable conduct.
IPCC Deputy Chair, Deborah Glass, said: “Officers acting in this way bring the police service into disrepute. You do not expect to see police officers smashing a car with a baseball bat. Whatever the threat they claimed to experience, their actions should be proportionate and reasonable – which in this case they plainly weren’t. They breached their codes of professional conduct and their actions were far below the standards rightly expected of police officers by the public.”
The outcome of a hearing is a matter for the panel presiding over the case. This case was investigated by the MPS Directorate of Professional Standards, managed by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.Notes to editors:In May 2008 the Metropolitan Police Service's anti-corruption command began a proactive investigation into the alleged mishandling of property by officers based on Enfield borough. This was supervised by the IPCC. During this investigation, several incidents came to light which were a cause of concern and three cases were referred to the IPCC separately. One has been investigated independently by the IPCC and two others have been subject to managed investigations. A total of 16 officers and one member of police staff have been subject to investigation by the MPS and IPCC. Misconduct is still being considered in relation to some matters. In December last year the Crown Prosecution Service, after consideration, decided that none of the officers should face prosecution. -ends-
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