WIREDGOV

A special constable accused of punching a handcuffed man detained under the Mental Health Act will face a gross misconduct hearing following an investigation.

SC Daniel Tiftik, who works for British Transport Police (BTP), is alleged to have breached professional standards of behaviour by using excessive force, failing to exhibit appropriate authority, respect and courtesy and over breaches of honesty and integrity.

We began an investigation in April 2017. The incident came to light when concerned officers who witnessed the alleged punches reported the matter to their supervisor. The matter was then referred by BTP Professional Standards Department.

On 3 April, 2017 a man trespassed onto railway tracks in the early hours of the morning at South Hampstead station before calling 999 requesting an ambulance. BTP officers attended the scene, handcuffed and detained the man under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act and escorted him to a waiting ambulance.

It is alleged that, while in the ambulance, SC Tiftik punched the man in the abdomen three times.

The investigation was completed in August 2017. In the investigator’s opinion, there was sufficient evidence upon which a reasonable tribunal properly directed, could find that SC Tiftik’s actions amount to grossmisconduct, and that a hearing should be convened.

BTP agreed and a hearing has been scheduled for 29 January, 2018 and is expected to last four days.

Our final report was also referred to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in July to assess if a crime had been committed. In August 2017, the CPS decided there was not enough evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction and took no further action.