IOPC investigating forcible removal of religious head covering in custody
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has served a gross misconduct notice on an officer from West Midlands Police following an allegation that a Sikh man had a religious head covering forcibly removed while in custody.
The incident took place at the Perry Barr custody suite in Birmingham in October and led to a complaint that officers’ actions towards the man were racially motivated.
A further six officers from the force have been served with misconduct notices in relation to failing to challenge the officer’s use of force and treatment of the man.
IOPC Regional Director, Derrick Campbell said: “Our investigation is still very much ongoing with notices served on seven officers who were all in the custody suite when the incident is said to have happened.
“The notices advise the officers that their conduct is subject to investigation because there is an indication they may have breached police standards of professional behaviour. However, it does not necessarily mean that misconduct proceedings will follow. It is only once our investigation is complete that we will make decisions about whether or not the officers have a case to answer and should face disciplinary proceedings.”
