Two Met officers under criminal investigation over handling of Usmaan Mahmood killing

Two Met police officers are under criminal investigation for the way they responded to the killing of 20-year-old Usmaan Mahmood in June.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it was investigating the two officers after a complaint from the public over how they gave fist aid to Mr Mahmood, who was found with stab injuries at the the junction of Melfort Road and Sandfield Road in Thornton Heath on June 13. He later died in hospital.

Joshua Munoz, 19, of Wiltshire Road, Croydon, has been charged with his murder and awaits trial.

The IOPC said it had established that at 4.16pm, two Met officers in a marked police vehicle were flagged down by a member of the public who reported a man had collapsed in Sandfield Road.

The officers found Mr Mahmood had been stabbed and called an ambulance. Another police unit arrived minutes later and first aid, including CPR, was then immediately performed.

The day after the incident, another member of the public raised concerns to the MPS that the first two officers did not appear to provide sufficient first aid to Mr Mahmood.

The incident was reviewed by the Met’s Department of Professional Standards (DPS) and a mandatory referral was made to the IOPC.

The investigation is looking into the contact that MPS officers had with Mr Mahmood, including whether the first aid provided was “appropriate and timely”.

The two officers were recently advised that they were under investigation for potential breaches of the standards of professional behaviour at the level of gross misconduct. They are also under criminal investigation for misconduct in public office.

This does not mean that criminal charges or disciplinary proceedings will necessarily follow.

IOPC director Mel Palmer said: “Our thoughts are with the family of Usmaan Mahmood and everyone affected by his death.

“A member of the public raised concerns about the actions of the officers. It’s important that we progress our independent investigation to establish the full circumstances, including the decision-making of the officers involved.

“We have been in regular contact with Mr Mahmood’s family to update them on the investigation.

“Once it’s completed, we will decide whether to make a referral to the Crown Prosecution Service for a charging decision, and also decide whether any of the officers involved should face disciplinary proceedings.”

Pictured top: Usmaan Mahmood, 20, was stabbed to death in Thornton Heath (Picture: The Met)