IPCC issues findings from investigation into arrest of 16-year-old boy in Bloxwich
23 Apr 2014 04:53 PM
An investigation by the Independent
Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has found two West Midlands Police officers
acted with an appropriate level of force when arresting a 16-year-old boy in
Bloxwich last year.
The
two police officers arrested the boy around 10.10pm on 5 April 2013 in Hamilton
Street, after responding to a noisy house party in nearby Penderel Street,
Bloxwich. During the arrest, he was restrained by police, and sustained an
injury to his ear.
The
boy was taken by police to hospital, where he received treatment for his
injuries, and was served with a penalty notice for disorder.
The
IPCC decided
to conduct an independent investigation after
the boy’s mother complained to both the IPCC and West Midlands Police
about her son’s alleged treatment by the police
officers.
IPCC investigators interviewed the boy and the two
police officers involved. The investigation found that the
boy was asked to move on from the area several times by police prior to his
arrest. The boy told the IPCC he refused to move on as he was waiting for a
taxi. While the officers were attempting to arrest the boy, a struggle ensued
and his head made contact with a wall, causing the injury to his
ear.
The investigation concluded that the
officers had reasonable grounds for the arrest, and there was insufficient
evidence to suggest the force used was excessive or unreasonable.
The investigation also found it was appropriate in the
circumstances for police to issue him with a penalty notice, as there was some
evidence to suggest that the boy was behaving in a drunk or disorderly
manner.
The
IPCC did uphold two of the complaints. It found that it took the police too
long to notify the mother about her son’s whereabouts after he was
arrested, and also that the boy’s mother was wrongly informed that he
could attend an alcohol awareness course instead of accepting the penalty
notice.
The
IPCC has shared its findings with West Midlands Police and the boy’s
mother, and offered to meet the boy’s mother to explain its
findings.
IPCC Deputy Chair Sarah Green said:
“While it is regrettable that the boy sustained an
ear injury that required stitches during contact with police, we found there
was no evidence of misconduct or criminal behaviour by the West Midlands Police
officers related to this arrest.”
Since the date of this incident, the law has changed and
penalty notices for disorder may no longer be issued to people under the age of
eighteen.
The investigation report is available
on the IPCC
website.