A Lewisham Metropolitan Police officer who threatened to use a taser on a boy’s neck in a stop and search has been given a final warning.
On September 4, 2020, PC Connor Jones was involved in the stop and search of a 16-year-old boy in Greenwich.
In this stop and search, PC Jones pressed a taser against the boy’s neck and said he would deploy it if he moved.
The stop and search as executed after police received a report that a young black male with a samurai knife was chasing two boys with weapons near Armitage Road, Greenwich.
Armed police were then deployed.
PC Jones and one other officer stopped a group of five teenagers in the area who they believed matched the description from the initial call.
One of the boys was stopped and searched while handcuffed and kneeling in the road.
As part of this search, PC Jones held a Taser against his neck and, according to the Metropolitan Police, can be heard on video telling him he will deploy it if he moves.
No weapons were found and the group were allowed to leave.
According to the Metropolitan Police, PC Jones then failed to comply with policies on detailing the incident.
It has been found that he did not complete a use of force form and was not wearing body worn video (BWV) due to technical difficulties with it.
Following the incident, a complaint was received and investigated by the local Met Professional Standards Unit.
The investigation concluded in December 2020 with the complaint not upheld and no misconduct identified for PC Jones.
The complainant appealed the decision to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) which launched an independent investigation on June 4, 2021.
They directed a gross misconduct hearing should be held for PC Jones and it concluded today, Friday, September 20.
Chief Superintendent Trevor Lawry, in charge of policing for South East Basic Command Unit, said: “We acknowledge that this was a distressing incident for the boy involved and recognise the ongoing impact it has had on both him and his family.
“We have previously apologised for the trauma caused and we repeat this again today.
“It is right that any use of force and stop and search are scrutinised and in this case, the panel found that PC Jones’ actions were not proportionate or necessary.
“Stop and search is one of the tactics we use to tackle knife crime and we know that when used in a focused and appropriate way, it helps us keep Londoners safe.
“However, we also recognise that when done incorrectly, we risk damaging members of the public’s trust.
“This is why we continue to monitor our stop and search activity, and are working with our communities to create an agreement on how we conduct stop and search in the future.”
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