Eight police officers are under investigation after a black female student was punched repeatedly during a drugs arrest and subjected to ‘dehumanising’ treatment, the Metropolitan Police has confirmed.
The woman was pinned down after being pulled from the passenger seat of a car that was spotted driving eratically. The driver has since been convicted of drink-driving.
She claimed one officer ‘smirked’ in response to her claims she couldn’t breathe, and said: ‘If you can talk, you can breathe.’
When she was taken into custody for obstructing a drugs search, the woman, in her 20s, claims she was subjected to a ‘humiliating’ strip search and punched repeatedly ‘very, very, very, very hard’.
All charges against her have since been dropped.
The woman was pinned down as she was arrested and reportedly told police that the officer holding her down was killing her
Eight Met Police officers are under investigation after an Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) probe was launched into the arrest.
Two officers have now been placed on restricted duties following the investigation.
In a statement to the BBC following a Newsnight investigation the IOPC said: ‘Eight officers have been served with notices advising them they are subject to investigation, with six officers at misconduct level and two officers at gross misconduct level.’
Rob Atkin, Commander of the Met’s South East BCU, also said: ‘All police officers are fully aware that they will be asked to account for their actions.
‘Officers are not exempt from the law, and nor would we wish to be.’
The arrest on May 9 in south-east London was filmed by a witness on a mobile phone.
In the clip a woman can be heard screaming: ‘I can’t breathe’ on several occasions.
The student told the BBC she had taken a break from writing essays and had met up with a friend for a takeaway.
As they were driving to a cash point, with the woman in the passenger seat, the driver was pulled over after police allegedly noticed they were driving erratically.
The driver has since been convicted of drink-driving.
The woman was then pulled from the car and restrained on the ground by several officers, with the footage showing one female officer repeatedly punching her as she was pinned down.
She claims she told the female officer that her male police colleague was killing her, but was met by a ‘smirk’ and told: ‘If you can talk, you can breathe.’
Once in custody in Lewisham Police Station after being taken in on suspicion of obstructing a drug search, the woman claims she was subjected to further ‘humiliation’ and violence.
This included being strip searched in front of a male officer, and also being repeatedly punched.
The arrest on May 9 in south-east London was filmed by a witness on a mobile phone
In the footage a female voice can be heard shouting ‘I can’t breathe’ on several occasions
She told the BBC: ‘They didn’t even tell me they were going to strip-search me.
‘It literally just happened when in the presence of the male and female officers with my cell door wide open, so people were passing.’
She claims this was done to ‘humiliate me more – dehumanise me more’.
The charges against the woman were later withdrawn.
After the woman complained about her treatment, the case was referred to IOPC, who launched an independent investigation.
The probe concerns the actions of eight officers, seven are Territorial Support Group officers and the eighth is a Met Detention officer.
One of the eight officers, assigned to TSG, is subject to a gross misconduct investigation and has been placed on restricted duties.
Police confirmed the Met Detention officer has also been placed on restricted duties and is subject to a gross misconduct investigation relating to the search of the woman in custody.
Six other officers are subject to misconduct investigations relating to failure to challenge the actions of an officer.
Eight Met Police officers are under investigation after a Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) probe was launched into the arrest
Rob Atkin, Commander of the Met’s South East BCU, said: ‘All police officers are fully aware that they will be asked to account for their actions.
‘Officers are not exempt from the law, and nor would we wish to be.
‘The Met continues to co-operate with the IOPC’s investigation team to ensure that all the facts are established.
‘Eight officers are under investigation in relation to this incident; two of whom have been placed on restricted duties.
‘In the small minority of cases where force is used, an officer must properly record this and account for why the level of force used was lawful, proportionate and necessary in the circumstances.
‘All frontline officers are equipped with body worn cameras so there is a clear and impartial record of interactions with the public.
‘Officers receive regular training to ensure that any force used is appropriate to the often difficult circumstances they face.’
A Met Police spokesman told Mail Online: ‘We became aware on 30 May of footage in the public domain showing the arrest of a man and a woman after a vehicle made off from police in Lewisham High Street on 9 May.
‘The man was charged and convicted on 6 July of drink-driving. He is Carlton Ireland, 46, of Hither Green.
‘The woman who had been travelling in the car with the man was charged with obstructing a drugs search.
‘This charge was withdrawn by the Crown Prosecution Service on 10 September.
‘A complaint was received from the woman arrested.
‘The complaint was referred to the IOPC, who have launched an independent investigation.
‘Since this investigation is ongoing, we are unable to comment in detail about the incident.
‘Further information will be made available when the investigation has concluded.’