WIREDGOV

A Metropolitan Police officer has been cleared of assaulting a 17 year old teenager during a routine stop and search yesterday (23 January).

DC Kevin Rowley appeared at Hendon Magistrates’ Court having been charged with common assault by beating following an IOPC investigation.

The investigation began after the Metropolitan Police Service reviewed mobile phone footage of the incident taken by a passer-by and referred the matter to the IOPC.

Regional Director for London Sal Naseem, said:

“The footage captured by the witness raised a number of questions about DC Rowley’s conduct when detaining individuals. In these circumstances it is right and proper that for public confidence an independent investigation is conducted.

“After reviewing the evidence we gathered, the Crown Prosecution Service decided to charge DC Rowley and a District Judge has found him not guilty of assault.”

DC Rowley was on routine duty with another officer in plain clothes on Heath Road, Romford, east London when they stopped two teenaged males to search them. During this incident, DC Rowley was filmed by a witness forcefully using his baton on the teenager after he had restrained him with handcuffs. The footage was widely circulated on social media. It showed DC Rowley striking the teenager many times while the handcuffed male cried out that he was a child.

The IOPC investigation began in April 2019 and in September 2019 we passed our report to the Crown Prosecution Service, who authorised a charge of common assault by beating in October 2019.

It is now for the Metropolitan Police Service to consider whether DC Rowley has a case to answer for gross misconduct and if so, they will schedule a hearing in due course.