After lying about using excessive force to apprehend a teenager, two Metropolitan Police officers were fired.
The North Area Command Unit’s PCs Alexei Zalesskiy and Conor Ryan were judged to have used excessive force as they were attempting to apprehend a 14-year-old kid, according to a misconduct hearing.
On April 17, 2021, both officers proceeded to Wilberforce Road in the London neighbourhood of Finsbury Park, where the incident took place. There have been reports of numerous young people causing mayhem while carrying blades.
The 14-year-old boy in question spat at PC Zalesskiy and PC Ryan before running away from them. The pair followed him and used force to arrest him close by.
Both were found to have used excessive force during the arrest, and then lied in statements about the incident.
Detective Chief Superintendent Caroline Haines, who leads policing in the north area, said: ‘Officers have to act with restraint and the public of course would expect them to be honest about their actions.
‘Action will be taken against any officer whose behaviour falls below that which is expected. We are determined to drive up standards, and those who fail to meet those standards have no place in the Met.’
Both men have now been added to the barred list held by the College of Policing.
The Crown Prosecution Service did not pursue criminal charges.