The Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) has upheld our client’s application for a review of his formal complaint, agreeing with his assessment that the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) had failed to conduct a satisfactory investigation into his complaint that he had been the victim of race discrimination.
Our client Joshua King, a young black electrician who runs his own business as well as being involved in community work, complained about his treatment after being stopped by Met Police Territorial Support Group officers in September 2023, handcuffed by the side of the road, and searched while travelling back home from an electrical job. He was then questioned about his employee’s lawful possession of a work knife. The incident was initially reported in the Evening Standard here.
In upholding our client’s application, the IOPC found that the police justification for their conduct had not been appropriately probed by the Met DPS, and that the DPS investigator had not properly considered data relating to one of the officer’s stop and search histories which showed he had disproportionately stopped Black people. The IOPC further indicated that the behaviour of one of the officers, in showing the work knife to passers by, was inappropriate and, in the context of a discriminatory stop, could be interpreted as harassment discrimination.
This case follows a pattern with which Bhatt Murphy is familiar; of complaints – and especially complaints of racial discrimination – being inadequately investigated by the Met Police and victims’ legitimate concerns being dismissed even in the face of statistical evidence of patterns of discriminatory behaviour.
The IOPC have directed that the DPS reinvestigate the complaint and Mr. King awaits the outcome.
As well as lodging a police complaint Mr. King is pursuing a civil claim against the Commissioner which is ongoing.
Mr. King is represented by Joanna Khan of Bhatt Murphy.
