An independent investigation found his actions were “unnecessary and unreasonable” By Victoria Munro
The boy was handcuffed and on the ground at the time (credit: Met)
A Met Police officer was sacked yesterday for using “unnecessary and unreasonable force” on a handcuffed teenager in Waltham Forest.
Steven Martin was among officers responding to reports of an attempted robbery in the E10 area on 28th February last year, who arrested three teenage boys.
While one of the boys, aged just 15, was on the floor and in handcuffs, PC Martin punched him and used abusive language, despite the fact he “was not resisting” at the time.
After the boy’s mother complained about his treatment, PC Martin attempted to claim that he had struck the boy by accident.
Earlier this year, he pleaded guilty to assault at Westminster Magistrates’ Court and was sentenced to a 14-week curfew order and ordered to pay costs and a victim surcharge.
Following his disciplinary hearing yesterday, Sal Naseem from the Independent Office for Police Conduct said PC Martin “paid a high price for his actions by losing his job”.
He added: “Police officers may only use force when it is necessary, proportionate and reasonable in the circumstances.
“Following our independent investigation, we found… the force used appeared to exceed what was required in the circumstances as the boy had given himself up and was not resisting.”
The former officer has now been added to a barred list, which will prevent him from ever working within the police service again.
The three teenage boys were charged with attempted robbery but the case against them was later dropped.
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