Watchdog investigates police over treatment of athletes

FIVE police officers are under disciplinary investigation for alleged misconduct after they stopped and searched Team GB athlete Bianca Williams and her boyfriend this summer, the police watchdog has announced.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it had advised the five Metropolitan police officers they were subject to a misconduct investigation that will examine whether the couple were treated “less favourably” because of their race.

The move puts the IOPC on a collision course with the Met police which said any failings “if proven” would only amount to “minor breaches” of professional behaviour or performance that did not reach the level of misconduct.

Williams and Ricardo dos Santos, a Portuguese sprinter, were stopped by officers on July 4 as they drove to their west London home in their Mercedes.

The couple were handcuffed while their baby son was in the car in an incident that generated controversy over police conduct and allegations of racial profiling, which the Met denies.

Footage of the incident in Maida Vale was shared widely on Twitter at the time after being posted by Linford Christie, the former Olympic medallist.

The police watchdog said that officers faced allegations over their treatment of dos Santos.

“Potential breaches, which will all be thoroughly investigated, include: the manner of some of the officers’ initial approach to Mr dos Santos; handcuffing Mr dos Santos initially and keeping him in handcuffs after he had been searched; and his continued detention and whether there were grounds to do so.”

In regard to Ms Williams, the watchdog said that the potential breaches included taking hold of her without first having sought her co-operation with the search, handcuffing her initially and continuing to handcuff her after the search.

The Met said none of the officers involved from the Territorial Support Group were suspended or subject to restricted duties.