Five Met officers to face gross misconduct over Bianca Williams stop
Five Metropolitan Police officers will face gross misconduct hearing over the stop and search of Team GB sprinter Bianca Williams and her partner
- The couple were stopped by police in Maida Vale, west London, on July 4, 2020
- Ms Williams and Mr Dos Santos both handcuffed and separated from baby son
- Nothing was found, no arrests made and the athletes were allowed on their way
- The athletes accused the force of ‘racially profiling’ them following the stop
- Police watchdog has confirmed five officers will face gross misconduct hearings
Five Metropolitan Police officers will face a gross misconduct hearing over the stop and search of Team GB sprinter Bianca Williams and her partner Ricardo Dos Santos.
The couple were stopped by police while travelling with their then three-month-old son in Maida Vale, west London, on July 4, 2020.
Ms Williams, 27, accused the force of ‘racially profiling’ her and Portuguese partner Mr Dos Santos when they were handcuffed and separated from their baby in footage widely shared on social media.
After the search, details of the couple’s three-month-old baby were also stored on a police database called Merlin, used to record information on children who become known to the authorities.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has now confirmed that five Met officers will face a disciplinary panel that will decide whether allegations they breached professional standards are proven.
If the gross misconduct is found proven, the officers will face the sack.
A sixth officer will attend a meeting with force management for alleged breaches that were assessed as misconduct.
IOPC regional director Sal Naseem said: ‘All five officers – an acting police sergeant and four police constables – will face allegations they breached police standards of professional behaviour for duties and responsibilities and for equality and diversity.
Team GB’s Bianca Williams in action during the Women’s 200m semi-final two at the 2017 IAAF World Championships at the London Stadium
Police officers at the scene of the stop and search in Lanhill Road, Maida Vale, west London, in July 2020
Mr Dos Santos and Ms Williams pictured during an interview with the BBC following the incident in west London
Ms Williams, pictured competing for Great Britain in 2017, said she believes officers racially profiled her and dos Santos
‘Four of them also face allegations that they breached the standards for use of force and for authority, respect and courtesy.
‘Three of the five – all police constables – will face allegations that they breached the standards for honesty and integrity and one will face an allegation they breached the police standards of professional behaviour for orders and instructions.
‘These matters were assessed as gross misconduct so it will be for the disciplinary panel, led by an independent legally qualified chair to determine whether or not the allegations are proven.’
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said the incident highlighted the need for Cressida Dick’s replacement as Metropolitan Police commissioner to draw up a ‘more effective plan to tackle the serious cultural issues’ within the force.
He added: ‘This incident was understandably deeply distressing for Bianca Williams and Ricardo Dos Santos, and I, like many Londoners, was disturbed by the footage of what happened.
‘I welcome the independent investigation by the IOPC and its findings.
‘It is important there is no further delay and these officers now face gross misconduct proceedings as soon as possible.
‘This case is yet another example of why it is vital that the next commissioner has a more effective plan to tackle the serious cultural issues within the Met Police and to regain the trust of Londoners.’
The Met voluntarily referred the matter to the IOPC shortly after the incident on in Lanhill Road due to a complaint recorded and public interest in the matter after a video of the stop and search emerged.
A statement from the Met said: ‘Officers from the Territorial Support Group, on patrol in the area in response to an increase in violence, had stopped and searched a vehicle they believed was being driven in a manner that raised suspicion.
‘The occupants were handcuffed while they and the vehicle were searched. Nothing was found, no arrests made and the occupants allowed on their way.’
The couple were handcuffed while they and the vehicle were searched, but nothing was found and no arrests made
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan (pictured) said the incident highlighted the need for Cressida Dick’s replacement as Metropolitan Police commissioner to draw up a ‘more effective plan to tackle the serious cultural issues’ within the force
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Bas Javid, from the Met’s Directorate of Professionalism, apologised for the distress caused to the couple.
He said: ‘I acknowledge the Independent Office for Police Conduct’s (IOPC) direction in this case.
‘We have co-operated fully with the IOPC’s investigation and, in accordance with their direction, are now arranging for an independently-led misconduct hearing to take place.
‘I am sorry for the distress that this incident clearly caused Ms Williams and Mr Dos Santos.’
In a statement issued through the couple’s lawyers, Bianca Williams said: ‘I welcome this decision and hope this opens the door for the Met to start being more honest and reflective about the culture of racism which is undoubtedly still a reality within the organisation.
‘A clear focus on the racism problem within the Met by the IOPC is long overdue.”
Mr Dos Santos added: “This has been a long journey, and one which has not been easy.
‘We have been engaged in this process for nearly two years, and who knows how much longer we will now have to wait for the conclusion of the misconduct proceedings.
‘This sheds a light on how difficult it is to ensure the police are held responsible for their failings.’
Former commissioner Dame Cressida Dick and acting Met boss Sir Stephen House have also come under fire for speaking out in the weeks after the controversial stop.
Appearing on LBC less then three weeks after the incident, Dame Cressida said: ‘I don’t personally accept that what we have seen so far on the video in relation to the stop of Miss Williams reveals racism.
Met boss Sir Stephen House has also come under fire for speaking out in the weeks after the controversial stop
‘Having seen some of the footage myself, I would say that any officer worth their salt would have stopped that car that was being driven in that manner.’
The IOPC also investigated a complaint over comments made by the then deputy commissioner Sir Stephen on July 15, 2020.
He told the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee that two internal Met professional standards teams had reviewed footage of the stop and ‘neither team saw anything wrong with it’.
Today, though, the IOPC said the force should consider apologising for Sir Stephen’s comments.
It added: ‘The complainants believed it impacted negatively on their lives and their baby. “We have directed that the MPS determine what action it should take and, in particular, whether it should apologise to the couple.’
The Met insisted that officers should be allowed to speak freely when questioned by scrutiny panels.
It released a statement saying: ‘Sir Stephen stands by his statement as being factually correct at the time and has written to the IOPC to reinforce the importance of senior officers being able to respond to questions from our scrutiny bodies openly and transparently, and for advice and clarification of the IOPC’s view of how he and his fellow chief officers, both in the Met and nationally, should respond to similar direct questioning in future.’
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