Met officers who handcuffed black schoolboy, 14, in mistaken identity search face hearing

Two Met officers who allegedly forced a black schoolboy to the ground before handcuffing him face a gross misconduct hearing.

Mobile footage of the teenager being restrained face down went viral on social media after the stop-and-search near Blackhorse Lane tram stop in Croydon on June 23, 2022.

PCs Benjamin Morgan and McCorley Clewes were responding to a knifepoint street robbery of a 13-year-old boy in the area. They mistakenly believed the boy was a suspect.

According to a notice of the five-day hearing due to start on September 23, it is alleged that PC Morgan and PC Clewes’ actions in detaining the teenager failed to make “reasonable adjustments” on the basis of his age, or to adopt a child-centred approach.

It is also alleged that “the officers’ actions were influenced by the suspect’s ethnicity”.

PCs Morgan and Clewes were then allegedly dishonest in telling members of the public who intervened that the boy had been “kicking out” and “attempted to leave”, when they knew that that was not true.

PC Morgan also completed a “use of force” form with incorrect details and information, it is claimed. 

It is alleged the officers also told the suspect’s mother that no-one knelt on him, when they knew that that was not true.

The boy’s mother made an official complaint to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which launched an investigation on June 29, 2022.

The IOPC investigation concluded in July 2023, and determined that the two officers should face a gross misconduct hearing for alleged breaches of the police standards of professional behaviour.

IOPC director Mel Palmer said: “Mobile phone footage of part of this incident was shared to social media and widely viewed on mainstream news outlets, which led to public concern.

“It was important that we investigated the full circumstances surrounding this incident to determine what occurred.

“We have now decided that two officers have cases to answer for gross misconduct and should face a hearing where a police disciplinary panel will decide whether the gross misconduct allegations are proven.”

PCs Morgan and Clewes are accused of breaching professional standards to a level which, if proven, could lead to dismissal without notice.

The hearing will start on September 23, at Palestra House in Blackfriars Road, and is listed for five days.

The Met declined to comment.

Pictured top: The misconduct hearing will take place at Palestra House in Blackfriars Road (Picture: Google Street View)