Two brothers who were stopped and searched on suspicion of drug dealing in Deptford after they were seen “fist-bumping” have begun legal proceedings against the police.

Liam and Dijon Joseph were detained outside a Caribbean takeaway on the high street in February 2018. No drugs were found.

A video of the incident was viewed over 200,000 times on social media, prompting accusations of racism.

Lawyers for the pair say they are suing the Met for discrimination, assault and false imprisonment.

Dijon told the BBC: "It just seemed like a typical case of profiling.

"I felt demonised, I felt penalised, I felt criminalised.

“It's not just our own perceptions, it's the perception of our community."

The brothers allege that the officers did not have reasonable grounds to stop and search them and felt the decision was taken due to racial stereotyping and because they were standing outside a Caribbean takeaway.

IOPC investigated the officers involved but found there was "not enough evidence to say it was discrimination".

A statement added: "After the IOPC complaint failed we approached the Equality & Human Rights Commission for help in bringing a case - they refused.

"We asked the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [Dame Cressida Dick] to admit discrimination under the Equality Act and they too refused.

"Having exhausted all other options we have today started civil proceedings at court against the Metropolitan Police for discrimination, assault and false imprisonment.

"It remains our hope in doing so that the police and all the systems surrounding them will learn from our experience; change is past due."