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| Met police officers could face sack after black firefighter was Tasered Met police officers could face sack after black firefighter was Tasered | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Three Metropolitan police officers face disciplinary proceedings that could lead to them being sacked after an off-duty firefighter was allegedly abused and shot with a Taser because he was black. | Three Metropolitan police officers face disciplinary proceedings that could lead to them being sacked after an off-duty firefighter was allegedly abused and shot with a Taser because he was black. |
| The officers face a disciplinary panel starting on Monday on charges of gross misconduct, which is further alleged to be racially motivated, the Guardian has learned. They deny the charges. | The officers face a disciplinary panel starting on Monday on charges of gross misconduct, which is further alleged to be racially motivated, the Guardian has learned. They deny the charges. |
| Edric Kennedy-Macfoy, 32, said police had behaved like “wild animals”, dragging him from his car and subjecting him to a violent attack that culminated in him being shot with a Taser. | Edric Kennedy-Macfoy, 32, said police had behaved like “wild animals”, dragging him from his car and subjecting him to a violent attack that culminated in him being shot with a Taser. |
| Since the incident in September 2011, one of the accused officers has been promoted by the Met. | Since the incident in September 2011, one of the accused officers has been promoted by the Met. |
| Kennedy-Macfoy says he approached the officers in Harrow, north London, to help identify a young man who had thrown a rock at a police van after a late-night melee. He says officers suddenly turned on him, and he believes he was targeted because of his skin colour. | Kennedy-Macfoy says he approached the officers in Harrow, north London, to help identify a young man who had thrown a rock at a police van after a late-night melee. He says officers suddenly turned on him, and he believes he was targeted because of his skin colour. |
| The disciplinary charges against the three officers – PCs Mark Gatland and Daniel Roberts and Insp Sutinderjit Mahil, who at the time was a sergeant – followed an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission. | The disciplinary charges against the three officers – PCs Mark Gatland and Daniel Roberts and Insp Sutinderjit Mahil, who at the time was a sergeant – followed an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission. |
| The Met said it was alleged that Gatland “used unreasonable force and discharged a Taser without warning and that on both occasions his actions were motivated by racial discrimination and/or racial stereotyping and so treated the victim less favourably.” | The Met said it was alleged that Gatland “used unreasonable force and discharged a Taser without warning and that on both occasions his actions were motivated by racial discrimination and/or racial stereotyping and so treated the victim less favourably.” |
| The force said it was also alleged that Roberts and Mahil each used “abusive and offensive language and that racial discrimination and/or racial stereotyping motivated this”. | The force said it was also alleged that Roberts and Mahil each used “abusive and offensive language and that racial discrimination and/or racial stereotyping motivated this”. |
| Kennedy-Macfoy told the Guardian he was dragged from a white Audi he had been driving, and the officers encircled him and shouted abuse. He said he replied calmly and showed his palms to the officers, telling them: “Listen guys, I haven’t done anything wrong. I’m a firefighter – I work with you lot and I just want to explain something. I’ve showed no aggression towards any of you.” | Kennedy-Macfoy told the Guardian he was dragged from a white Audi he had been driving, and the officers encircled him and shouted abuse. He said he replied calmly and showed his palms to the officers, telling them: “Listen guys, I haven’t done anything wrong. I’m a firefighter – I work with you lot and I just want to explain something. I’ve showed no aggression towards any of you.” |
| He said of the disciplinary proceedings: “I can only hope and pray that the truth finally prevails and that justice is now done. After everything I’ve been through I find it very difficult to call on the police for assistance at a time of need. Racism in the police is something I’ve seen and suffered throughout my life. It’s a disease that can only be cured by police forces rooting it out from within.” | He said of the disciplinary proceedings: “I can only hope and pray that the truth finally prevails and that justice is now done. After everything I’ve been through I find it very difficult to call on the police for assistance at a time of need. Racism in the police is something I’ve seen and suffered throughout my life. It’s a disease that can only be cured by police forces rooting it out from within.” |
| The new prime minister, Theresa May, highlighted racial discrimination in the justice system as she took office last week, saying outside Downing Street: “If you’re black, you’re treated more harshly by the criminal justice system than if you’re white.” | The new prime minister, Theresa May, highlighted racial discrimination in the justice system as she took office last week, saying outside Downing Street: “If you’re black, you’re treated more harshly by the criminal justice system than if you’re white.” |
| Kennedy-Macfoy was cleared of obstructing police after a two-day trial at Brent magistrates court. The disciplinary hearing against the officers will be held in private and is scheduled to last three weeks. Kennedy-Macfoy is expected to testify. | Kennedy-Macfoy was cleared of obstructing police after a two-day trial at Brent magistrates court. The disciplinary hearing against the officers will be held in private and is scheduled to last three weeks. Kennedy-Macfoy is expected to testify. |
| The IPCC said: “The IPCC investigation into a complaint made by Edric Kennedy-Macfoy relating to his arrest by MPS officers is complete. We have shared our findings with the MPS professional standards department and Mr Kennedy-Macfoy’s solicitors. Three MPS officers are now facing gross misconduct hearings and as such it would be inappropriate to comment on the findings of the investigation.” | The IPCC said: “The IPCC investigation into a complaint made by Edric Kennedy-Macfoy relating to his arrest by MPS officers is complete. We have shared our findings with the MPS professional standards department and Mr Kennedy-Macfoy’s solicitors. Three MPS officers are now facing gross misconduct hearings and as such it would be inappropriate to comment on the findings of the investigation.” |
| The Crown Prosecution Service decided not to bring criminal charges against the officers. Kennedy-Macfoy’s lawyer, Shamik Dutta, said: “My client has done all he can to bring these matters to the attention of the authorities. He must now place his faith in the police misconduct tribunal.” | The Crown Prosecution Service decided not to bring criminal charges against the officers. Kennedy-Macfoy’s lawyer, Shamik Dutta, said: “My client has done all he can to bring these matters to the attention of the authorities. He must now place his faith in the police misconduct tribunal.” |