Officer dismissed following conviction of assault

A misconduct hearing on Monday (March 24) heard that PC Jonathan Marsh had been convicted of assault at City of London Magistrates’ Court on January 29, 2024.

On the evening of November 13, 2022, PC Marsh, attached to the East Area Command Unit, and colleagues were called to a report of criminal damage in Atlanta Boulevard in Romford.

On arrival, PC Marsh mistook another man for the suspect, despite him telling the officers that he called police.

PC Marsh attempted to place him in handcuffs before taking him to ground and punching him on the head.

The man was subsequently identified as the complainant, and was de-arrested at the scene.

The hearing considered all the evidence and found that PC Marsh breached the standards of professional behaviour for authority, respect and courtesy, equality and diversity and discreditable conduct at a level of gross misconduct.

Chief Superintendent Stuart Bell, in charge of policing in East Area, said: “All police officers know they will be held to account for any use of force, and any use of force must be reasonable.

“On this occasion, PC Marsh went beyond the level of force necessary and it is right that he has to face the consequences of his actions.

“I would like to apologise to the victim of the assault. This incident should not have happened and it is a matter of profound regret that an innocent member of the public was injured in this way.”

PC Marsh was sentenced at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday April 29, 2024, to 12 weeks in jail, suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to complete 150 hours unpaid work, pay £1,500 compensation and a statutory charge of £154.

PC Marsh will now be placed on the barred list held by the College of Policing.