Police officers have been accused of racially stereotyping a 16-year-old black boy and then using unnecessary force during a stop and search in Greenwich last year.
A complaint was lodged against the police officers after Tasers were deployed but no activated during the incident, and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has now launched an appeal for witnesses as part of its investigation.
The incident happened at around 10:50pm on September 4, 2020, as MPS officers were responding to reports of a serious incident in Armitage Road, Greenwich in south east London.
Five teenage boys were stopped and searched in the area, including a 16-year-old black boy.
A complaint was lodged that the teenager was "racially stereotyped" and that the officers did not have reasonable grounds to stop and search him.
It was added that police then allegedly "abused their authority by using unnecessary source."
The allegations are not proven, but the IOPC launched an independent investigation back in June.
Since then, the public watchdog has collected officers’ body worn video and mobile phone footage which was shared on social media.
They have also obtained incident logs, call recordings, radio airwaves transmissions, and relevant force policies and procedures.
IOPC Regional Director Sal Naseem said: "It’s possible that a number of bystanders may have witnessed this incident.
"It’s vitally important we establish the full circumstances leading to this stop and search so I would appeal to anyone who saw what happened to contact our investigators as soon as possible.
"We have carried out door-to-door enquiries and put up witness appeal boards in the local area.
"We would particularly like to hear from anyone who either witnessed the incident or may have footage of it."
Please contact the IOPC by emailing op.taponga@policeconduct.gov.uk
Following receipt of the complaint into this incident, it was investigated by the MPS and concluded in December 2020.
The IOPC was asked by the complainant to review that investigation and we decided on 4 June there should be an independent investigation into the stop and search.
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