Fourth Charing Cross officer dismissed following Panorama broadcast
A fourth officer whose disgraceful conduct at Charing Cross police station was featured on BBC Panorama has been dismissed from the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).
However, more misconduct hearings scheduled for today and next week are to be adjourned as the BBC only yesterday – after repeated requests – shared with the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) unaired footage in relation to the matters.
Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said: “We are grateful for the BBC’s journalism which exposed the appalling behaviour of a number of officers who are now going through misconduct proceedings.
“However, the BBC’s cooperation since they first contacted us has fallen short. The IOPC and Met were in agreement the hearings could go ahead based on the evidence available, but the extremely late disclosure by the BBC of full untransmitted material has allowed adjournment applications.
“While adjournments are standard to ensure each hearing can fairly consider all the available evidence, it is extremely frustrating to be in this position.
“The public rightly had an expectation that misconduct proceedings for these officers would be concluded as swiftly as possible and we made that commitment, working with the IOPC to schedule hearings less than a month after the broadcast.
“The actions of the BBC, which should be acting in the public interest, have added unnecessary complications to what is already a bureaucratic, complex and highly legalistic misconduct system for police.
“The hearings will be rescheduled by the chairs at the earliest opportunity.”
PC Jason Sinclair-Birt, attached to Central West Command Unit at the time of the allegations, faced an accelerated misconduct hearing today (October 24).
The BBC Panorama broadcast on Wednesday, October 1, showed him smiling and boasting to another officer about using excessive force on a restrained detainee.
He spoke about hitting the detainee five or six times on the back of his legs with a baton and said “a red mist definitely appeared”.
Allegations PC Sinclair-Birt breached standards of professional behaviour in relation to discreditable conduct were proven. He was dismissed without notice and will be added to the Barred List held by the College of Policing to prevent him re-joining the police or being employed by other related bodies.
Today’s hearing for Sergeant Clayton Robinson, attached to MPS Detention, will now take place on Tuesday (October 28).
Three other hearings due to be held on Tuesday will be adjourned to a date to be set with the final hearing, relating to Sergeant Steve Stamp, attached to MPS Detention and facing allegations of excessive use of force, also likely to be adjourned.