Policeman sacked for using too much force in arrest
A POLICEMAN has been sacked for using “unnecessary, unreasonable and disproportionate” force while making an arrest at Doncaster railway station.
PC Robert Mitchell of British Transport Police was dismissed for breaching the standards of professional behaviour expected of a police officer following a gross misconduct hearing which concluded this week.
The hearing took place following an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).
The probe followed a referral from British Transport Police which had received a complaint from a member of the public about the incident at the station on January 14.
A spokesman for the IPCC said: “Our investigation looked at the contact British Transport Police had with the man detained.
“After studying CCTV of the incident and statements made by independent witnesses and the officers involved, in the IPCC investigator’s opinion, there was evidence of a case to answer for gross misconduct by PC Mitchell in relation to the level of force used on the man.
“The report was shared with British Transport Police in June 2017 and they agreed with the investigator’s findings.
“The gross misconduct hearing started on December 18 and concluded on December 21.
“Now that the disciplinary proceedings have concluded, we will consider publishing our findings.”
It is one of the final cases to be dealt with by the IPCC in its current guise. From January 8, the organisation will become known as the Independent Office for Police Conduct as part of efforts to simplify and streamline the police complaints system.
The IOPC will be led by new director-general Michael Lockwood, who is currently the chief executive of Harrow Council.