Policing watchdog to probe sprinter’s car search

ThE controversial stop-and-search of a top black British sprinter is to be reviewed by the policing watchdog.

The Met referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct yesterday after footage of Bianca Williams and her partner Ricardo dos Santos being pulled from their luxury Mercedes car provoked outrage.

Scotland Yard confirmed it had received a complaint about the search in Maida Vale, west London, on Saturday, which Miss Williams said was based on racial profiling.

A police spokesman said: ‘The decision to refer to the IOPC has been taken due to the complaint being recorded and the significant public interest in this matter and we welcome independent scrutiny of the facts.

‘Two reviews of the circumstances by the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards have not identified misconduct for any officer involved.’

Miss Williams, 26, said she believes officers racially profiled her and her partner, who is a Portuguese 400-metre runner, when they were handcuffed and separated from their three-month-old baby son in the car.

Yesterday pop star Chrissie hynde, lead singer of The Pretenders, accused the Met of being ‘out of

‘Disturbing and aggressive’

touch’. The 68-year-old, who lives in Maida Vale, wrote in a letter published by The Guardian: ‘The incident was disturbing and aggressive, and the police van remained parked there for over an hour. The couple were innocent of whatever charges they were suspected of and were eventually let go.

‘There has been a surge of violence in this area over the past five years. The son of a friend of mine was stabbed eight times last year in broad daylight on the same street as Saturday’s incident.

‘For years there has been no protection at all on the streets and now hordes of police are pulling over innocent citizens and causing real distress for no reason.’

Nothing was found in the search, which the Met said was carried out by officers patrolling the area in response to an increase in violence.

The force also said the vehicle was seen driving suspiciously, including on the wrong side of the road, and that the driver sped off when asked to stop. But this account was rejected by Miss Williams, a Commonwealth Games gold medallist.

London mayor Sadiq Khan said: ‘I welcome the decision to refer the handling of this incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

‘Allegations of racial profiling are extremely serious and it’s right that it will now be independently investigated.’