Emergency Services News
DONATE
No Result
View All Result
  • Police
  • Body-Worn Camera Footage
  • National Crime Agency
  • Police Pursuits
  • Police Dogs In Action
  • Court Results
  • Ambulance
  • Fire Service
  • NHS
  • Assaulted on Duty
  • Must See Videos
  • Guest Blog
  • Hoax Calls
  • Rewards & Discounts
  • About ESN
  • Contact
Emergency Services News
No Result
View All Result

IOPC ‘Serves Papers’ On Five Met Officers Involved In Bianca Williams Vehicle Stop

by John Johnson
8 October 2020
in Police Service
3 min read
1
IOPC ‘Serves Papers’ On Five Met Officers Involved In Bianca Williams Vehicle Stop
135
SHARES
6.7k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The Independent Office for Police Conduct has confirmed that it has served papers on five Met Officers, letting them know that they are now under an official investigation after they stopped a car with blacked-out windows on it that also had a well-known sports personality in the car. 

Athletes Bianca Williams and Ricardo Dos Santos were stopped and searched by MPS officers in Maida Vale on 4 July. At the time, the Met released a statement detailing how the car was being ‘driven erratically’ which gave cause to arouse the suspicion of the officers who had spotted the vehicle being driven in such a manner. 

Partial video footage of the stop (the point at which officers approached the vehicle, but not the minutes leading up to the stop) was shared widely on social media at the time. 

Ms Williams made a complaint about the incident on Twitter, and the MPS subsequently made a referral to the IOPC.

A spokesperson for the IOPC confirmed that the five officers would be investigated for ‘potential breaches of police standards of professional behaviour relating to use of force; duties and responsibilities; and authority, respect and courtesy’. 

The spokesperson added that concerning the officers’ interaction with Mr Dos Santos these potential breaches include: the manner of some of the officers’ initial approach to Mr Dos Santos; handcuffing Mr Dos Santos initially and keeping him in handcuffs after he had been searched; and his continued detention and whether there were grounds to do so.

In relation to Ms Williams, the potential breaches include taking hold of her without first having sought her co-operation with the search; handcuffing her initially and continuing to handcuff her after she had been searched; her continued detention and whether there were grounds to do so.

The IOPC’s ongoing investigation will focus on:

1. Why Mr Dos Santos’ vehicle was followed and stopped

2. Whether the force used against Mr Dos Santos and Ms Williams, was lawful, necessary, reasonable and proportionate

3. If the search of the car, of Mr Dos Santos and of Ms Williams was reasonable and objective

4. Whether there were legitimate grounds for a MERLIN report to be created for their baby who was in the back of the car (note: MERLIN is a database run by the MPS and stores information on children who have become known to the police for any reason)

5. Whether Ms Williams and Mr Dos Santos were treated less favourably because of their race

6. The accuracy of the accounts provided by the officers

7. The appropriateness of the communications issued by the MPS during an IOPC investigation.

IOPC Regional Director Sal Naseem said: 

“Having analysed a range of evidence including police body-worn, dashcam video and witness statements, we now have a fuller picture of the officers’ interactions with the couple and their child.

“As a result, we have taken the decision that this meets the threshold for a misconduct investigation, the allegations will now be investigated thoroughly and independently.

“It is important to note that a misconduct investigation does not necessarily mean misconduct proceedings will follow. Decisions on any further action will only be made once our investigation is complete.”

Before you go...

We need your help. As former emergency services & armed forces personnel, we pride ourselves on bringing you important, fast-moving and breaking news stories which are free from the negative bias which is often directed at the emergency services by some sections of the mainstream media.

One of the reasons we started 'Emergency Services News' was because we became tired of reading badly informed stories about the emergency services which seemed only ever to highlight negative aspects of the job.

We want to be the unheard voice of the remarkable men and women who serve in the emergency services, NHS and armed forces. And with around 500k page views each month, we are getting there!

As income from ads, the mainstay source of income for most publishers, continues to decline; we need the help of our readers.

And remember, if you have a service, product or job vacancy that you would like to promote to our large readership, then you can buy advertising space in our articles.

You can support emergency services news from as little as £1. It only takes a minute. Every contribution, however big or small, is vital for our future.

Please help us to continue to highlight the life-saving work of the emergency services, NHS and armed forces by becoming a supporter.

SUPPORT EMERGENCY SERVICES NEWS
Share54Tweet34

Related Posts

Driver Covers His Seat In ‘Polish & Smarties’ After Learning That His Vehicle Will Be Seized
Police Service

Driver Covers His Seat In ‘Polish & Smarties’ After Learning That His Vehicle Will Be Seized

Woman Fined After Driving 100 Miles For A Big Mac & Fries
Police Service

Woman Fined After Driving 100 Miles For A Big Mac & Fries

British Transport Police Welcomes Special Constables To Join Federation
Police Service

British Transport Police Welcomes Special Constables To Join Federation

16 Police Officers Assaulted On Christmas Day In Sussex Alone
Police Service

Several Police Officers Sacked After Anonymous Tip-Off Led To Listening Devices Being Placed In CID Office

‘Best Drugs In Manchester’ Drug User Who Intimidated Bus Passengers Is Busted By Plain-Clothed Cops
Police Service

‘Best Drugs In Manchester’ Drug User Who Intimidated Bus Passengers Is Busted By Plain-Clothed Cops

Met Police Shuts Down 58 Unlicensed Music Events On New Years Eve
Police Service

Met Police Shuts Down 58 Unlicensed Music Events On New Years Eve

Load More

Comments 1

  1. Avatar Tony Laming says:
    4 months ago

    Asking permission to put handcuffs on? What a bloody farce! If they had been white and made similar claims it would have been dismissed.

    Reply

Let us know what you think in the comments below Cancel reply

  • Police
  • Body-Worn Camera Footage
  • National Crime Agency
  • Police Pursuits
  • Police Dogs In Action
  • Court Results
  • Ambulance
  • Fire Service
  • NHS
  • Assaulted on Duty
  • Must See Videos
  • Guest Blog
  • Hoax Calls
  • Rewards & Discounts
  • About ESN
  • Contact
© Emergency Services News
No Result
View All Result
  • Police
  • Body-Worn Camera Footage
  • National Crime Agency
  • Police Pursuits
  • Police Dogs In Action
  • Court Results
  • Ambulance
  • Fire Service
  • NHS
  • Assaulted on Duty
  • Must See Videos
  • Guest Blog
  • Hoax Calls
  • Rewards & Discounts
  • About ESN
  • Contact