WIREDGOV

Two Metropolitan Police Service officers will appear at court to face charges of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice following an Independent Police Complaints Commission investigation (IPCC) into an incident during the student demonstrations in London in 2010.

PC Calvin Lindsay, 30, who is based at Bexley Police Station, has been summonsed to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on Monday, 24, February.

PC Andrew Ott, 35, who is based at Lewisham Police Station, will face an additional charge of assault causing actual bodily harm when he also appears at Westminster Magistrates Court on the same day.

The alleged offences relate to an incident on 9 December 2010 in Westminster in which a 20 year old student was arrested on suspicion of threatening to commit criminal damage although no further action was taken against him. It is alleged that PC Ott assaulted the man and that he and PC Lindsay subsequently conspired to pervert the course of justice through an unlawful arrest of him.  

The IPCC passed a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in February 2012 and the CPS advised there was insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction.

Following a review of that decision, in December 2013 the CPS authorised the IPCC to summons both officers.

The IPCC began independently investigating the incident following a referral from the MPS in February 2011.

Notes to editors:

For media enquiries please contact the IPCC press office on 020 7166 3000.