This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jul/28/two-officers-say-ipcc-let-them-down-over-alleged-abuse-of-firefighter

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Two officers say IPCC let them down over alleged abuse of firefighter Two officers say IPCC let them down over alleged abuse of firefighter
(35 minutes later)
Two Metropolitan police officers at the centre of a five-year investigation over claims they racially discriminated against a black off-duty firefighter have accused the police watchdog of wasting public money and letting them down after a misconduct case collapsed.Two Metropolitan police officers at the centre of a five-year investigation over claims they racially discriminated against a black off-duty firefighter have accused the police watchdog of wasting public money and letting them down after a misconduct case collapsed.
PC Daniel Roberts and Insp Sutinderjit Mahil said the safety net of the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) had failed them, with tRoberts adding that the stress of the case had left him in hospital with a brain infection. PC Daniel Roberts and Insp Sutinderjit Mahil said the safety net of the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) had failed them, with Roberts adding that the stress of the case had left him in hospital with a brain infection.
The pair were accused of using abusive and offensive language motivated by racial discrimination and/or racial stereotyping towards Edric Kennedy-Macfoy as he helped the officers identify a teenager who had thrown a rock at a police van in Harrow, north London, in September 2011.The pair were accused of using abusive and offensive language motivated by racial discrimination and/or racial stereotyping towards Edric Kennedy-Macfoy as he helped the officers identify a teenager who had thrown a rock at a police van in Harrow, north London, in September 2011.
It was also claimed PC Mark Gatland, a firearms officer, Tasered the firefighter without warning, and he was accused of using unreasonable force motivated by racial discrimination and/or racial stereotyping.It was also claimed PC Mark Gatland, a firearms officer, Tasered the firefighter without warning, and he was accused of using unreasonable force motivated by racial discrimination and/or racial stereotyping.
The three officers had faced the sack at a disciplinary panel after it was claimed Kennedy-Macfoy was Tasered because he was black.The three officers had faced the sack at a disciplinary panel after it was claimed Kennedy-Macfoy was Tasered because he was black.
But the misconduct case against them collapsed on Wednesday when the IPCC withdrew its case over “procedural shortfalls”. The watchdog admitted it failed to take into account statements corroborating the officers’ accounts from independent witnesses, did not interview those witnesses and then failed to disclose those statements during disciplinary proceedings.But the misconduct case against them collapsed on Wednesday when the IPCC withdrew its case over “procedural shortfalls”. The watchdog admitted it failed to take into account statements corroborating the officers’ accounts from independent witnesses, did not interview those witnesses and then failed to disclose those statements during disciplinary proceedings.
Roberts, 30, said: “I am pleased that the case against us has been dropped but feel annoyed that I have not been able to speak out about what really happened. A one-line apology from the IPCC is not enough after five years of stress and the impact it has had.Roberts, 30, said: “I am pleased that the case against us has been dropped but feel annoyed that I have not been able to speak out about what really happened. A one-line apology from the IPCC is not enough after five years of stress and the impact it has had.
“I ended up in hospital with a brain infection brought on by stress so a brief apology does not do that justice. I believed the IPCC were there as a safety net but they have let us all down.”“I ended up in hospital with a brain infection brought on by stress so a brief apology does not do that justice. I believed the IPCC were there as a safety net but they have let us all down.”
Mahil added: “This case should never have got this far, yet it has taken five years to get to this point. This has been a complete waste of public money and I feel greatly let down by the IPCC for bringing this unnecessary case against us, which we always denied.Mahil added: “This case should never have got this far, yet it has taken five years to get to this point. This has been a complete waste of public money and I feel greatly let down by the IPCC for bringing this unnecessary case against us, which we always denied.
“Race played no part in any of the police officers’ actions on that night. All we were doing was trying to restore order to the streets of Harrow. We all now want to put this behind us and move on with our careers.”“Race played no part in any of the police officers’ actions on that night. All we were doing was trying to restore order to the streets of Harrow. We all now want to put this behind us and move on with our careers.”
The pair’s lawyer, John Downes, from Slater and Gordon, said the failures of the IPCC were “completely unacceptable”.The pair’s lawyer, John Downes, from Slater and Gordon, said the failures of the IPCC were “completely unacceptable”.
He said: “No apology would be enough for the strain it has put on our clients. Our clients have always maintained their innocence and are relieved to have been finally exonerated.He said: “No apology would be enough for the strain it has put on our clients. Our clients have always maintained their innocence and are relieved to have been finally exonerated.
“This whole process has dragged on for five years and has affected them both. We hope now that they have been cleared they will be able to draw a line under this matter and get on with their lives.”“This whole process has dragged on for five years and has affected them both. We hope now that they have been cleared they will be able to draw a line under this matter and get on with their lives.”
The incident happened when 50 officers were sent to break up a party attended by about 200 people that had spiralled out of control.The incident happened when 50 officers were sent to break up a party attended by about 200 people that had spiralled out of control.
Scotland Yard said some revellers became hostile to the police, and this was in the context of riots that had been seen across the country a month earlier.Scotland Yard said some revellers became hostile to the police, and this was in the context of riots that had been seen across the country a month earlier.
Kennedy-Macfoy, who has said he feels he has been denied justice, also said he believes racism is “like a disease” within the Met and that he could no longer trust the force.Kennedy-Macfoy, who has said he feels he has been denied justice, also said he believes racism is “like a disease” within the Met and that he could no longer trust the force.