MORE COP MISCONDUCT NOTICES ISSUED:
FOUR more police officers have been served misconduct notices in relation to the investigation surrounding the death of Mohamud Hassan.
Mr Hassan, 24, died on January 9 after being held in police custody in Cardiff overnight.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has been investigating the circumstances surrounding Mr Hassan’s death since January.
Last month it released information stating that more than 40 police officers were being questioned over the death.
In a statement released yesterday, the IOPC said a further four officers have been served misconduct notices surrounding the death – including three notices relating to the use of force against Mr Hassan.
The notices served relating to Mr Hassan’s time in custody are:
■ “A notice at gross misconduct level on a police officer that they may have breached police professional standards of duties and responsibilities, and honesty and integrity. We are examining the adequacy of welfare checks carried out and whether these were in line with required standards, and entries the officer made on the custody record”;
■ “A notice at misconduct level on a police officer concerning their use of force while escorting Mr Hassan shortly after he arrived at the custody suite; we are examining whether the use of force was necessary, proportionate and reasonable in the circumstances”;
■ “A notice at misconduct level on a custody detention officer that they may have breached police professional standards of duties and responsibilities concerning the adequacy of welfare checks carried out, and whether these were in line with required standards”.
Representatives of Mr Hassan’s family have been calling for documents about his final hours to be made available to them as well as police bodyworn camera footage of his arrest in Cardiff on Friday, January 8, and other footage of his arrest and his time in custody overnight in Cardiff Bay Police station.
Mr Hassan was arrested on suspicion of a breach of the peace and was released without charge at around 8.30am on the morning of Saturday, January 9.
He was found dead shortly after 10.30pm that night at a property on Newport Road, Roath.
It was stated in the Senedd at the time of his death that witnesses had reportedly been shocked by Mr Hassan’s condition following his release from custody, saying his tracksuit was covered in blood and that he had severe injuries and bruising.
Last month, over three consecutive days, hundreds of people protested outside Cardiff Bay police station demanding information about the series of events that lead to Mr Hassan’s death.
In yesterday’s statement, the IOPC say that notices of investigation have recently been served on three further South Wales Police officers and one custody detention officer. In addition, the police officer previously served has received an updated misconduct notice.
Three of the notices relate to when Mr Hassan was in custody at Cardiff Bay police station, and two concern the actions of officers who attended the Newport Road address on the evening of Mr Hassan’s arrest.
In terms of the evening of Mr Hassan’s arrest for alleged breach of the peace, the IOPC have served notices at misconduct level on two police officers concerning their decisionmaking on use of force on Mr Hassan when at the property.
They are now considering whether the use of force was necessary and proportionate in the circumstances.
Service of a misconduct notice does not necessarily mean an officer has committed any wrongdoing. It is to notify an officer that their conduct is being investigated.
The most serious sanction that can be imposed if an officer is subsequently found to have breached professional standards at gross misconduct level is dismissal, and at misconduct level is a written warning.
IOPC director for Wales Catrin Evans said: “In the course of an investigation, where an indication arises that an officer may have breached professional standards that may warrant a disciplinary sanction, we serve a disciplinary notice to advise them they are subject to investigation.
“We have updated Mr Hassan’s family and South Wales Police about the further misconduct notices.
“We keep misconduct notices under review during the course of an investigation.
“At the conclusion the IOPC decides whether any officer under notice has a disciplinary case to answer.
“As I have urged before, an investigation like this does take time and we would ask people to be patient while the investigation runs its course.”