Bedfordshire PCs face misconduct hearing after inquiry

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Two police officers accused of pursuing an autistic man before one attacked him are facing gross misconduct hearings.

An inquiry by Leicestershire Police into Bedfordshire PCs Christopher Thomas and Christopher Pitts decided they have a misconduct case to answer.

They were accused of chasing Faruk Ali, 33, in Luton on 20 February 2014.

The pair were acquitted of misconduct in a public office at Aylesbury Crown Court but the police force ordered a separate inquiry into their behaviour.

Leicestershire Police carried out the investigation for the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

Mr Thomas, 33, of Welwyn Garden City, and Mr Pitts, 39, of Bedford, were accused of laughing as the pair drove after Mr Ali, who was walking in the street near his home in Luton.

During the trial, Mr Thomas was said to have got out of the car and grabbed Mr Ali, knocking over bins outside the family home in Whitby Road, before punching him.

When asked what they were doing, the pair told senior officers Mr Ali may have been a burglar, or a robber and could have had a knife and stabbed someone, the court heard.

Det Sup Mark Hodgson, of Bedfordshire Police, said: "Bedfordshire Professional Standards Department has determined that there is a case to answer for both officers involved in this case for misconduct and gross misconduct.

"Arrangements for a public misconduct hearing are currently being considered.

"All the complainants will continue to be updated as matters progress."