A Bromley police officer, who was last month cleared of wrongdoing in the death of Olaseni Lewis, has been cleared of gross misconduct in another case for allegedly punching a suspect in the face.

Bromley-based PC James Smith and two other officers carried out the arrest of a 32-year-old man for robbery and assault on police in Quilter Road, Orpington in September 2015.

PC Smith allegedly used excessive and unreasonable force on the man by punching him in the face and using knee strikes when there was no lawful justification for doing so.

But PC Smith was cleared yesterday of breaching the Met’s standards of professional behaviour in respect of ‘use of force’ and ‘discreditable conduct.’

The ruling was made by an independent, legally qualified chairman who decided that PC Smith’s use of force was reasonable and proportionate to ensure the safety of himself, the other officers and the suspect.

PC Smith was also one of six Metropolitan Police officers cleared of gross misconduct over the death of mental health patient Olaseni Lewis.

Mr Lewis, 23, died in 2010, after being restrained by police at Bethlem Royal Hospital in Beckenham.