WMP officers cleared of misconduct will now face disciplinary hearing
Two serving West Midlands Police officers have been cleared of misconduct in public office in connection with the arrest of a man during a demonstration in Birmingham.
Police constables Brent Swarbrick and Richard Bolton had denied the charge and were found not guilty by a jury at Birmingham Crown Court following a seven-day trial.
The charges had alleged that PC Swarbrick made a false witness statement and PC Bolton a false pocketbook entry following the arrest of a man for a public order offence during an anti-fascism rally near Birmingham international railway station in February 2016.
The officers stated that the man had sworn several times, leading to his arrest, but that appeared to be contradicted by an audio recording of the incident made by an independent legal observer at the demonstration.
The case against the man was discontinued when the recording was produced at court and this led to a complaint from him being referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) by the force in February 2017.
West Midlands Regional Director for the IOPC Derrick Campbell said: “These were serious allegations and it was only right that the evidence should be heard and tested in court. Our investigation concluded both officers had a case to answer for gross misconduct.”
Mr Campbell said the IOPC was now awaiting confirmation from the force on how it will proceed with the disciplinary process.
