Independent Police Complaints Commission
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Two Essex officers given final written warning following IPCC investigation
Two Essex Police officers have been given a final written warning following an IPCC investigation into the treatment of a 16-year-old known as Boy R.
Boy R was strip searched without an appropriate adult present on three occasions over a two week period in August 2014 in Southend, Essex. On one occasion this took place in the back of a police van.
The IPCC found that PC Michael Brimfield and PC Ian Patterson had a case to answer for gross misconduct for actions including strip searching Boy R on a total of three occasions without an appropriate adult present and failing to correctly record the strip searches. An appropriate adult is always required when a search of a minor takes place.
Both officers’ cases of gross misconduct were proven at a force misconduct hearing heard las week (21-25 August) and they were given a final written warning.
In the case of PC Brimfield, it was determined by the panel that his breaches of ‘Use of Force’, ‘Duties and Responsibilities’ and ‘Failing to Challenge and Report’ paragraphs of the Standards of Professional Behaviour on August 4, 2014 and August 17, 2014 were proven at a level of gross misconduct.
The hearing also found a case to answer for gross misconduct for PC Brimfield in relation to a use of force against another man in relation to using handcuffs without justification.
In the case of PC Patterson, the panel determined that his breaches of the ‘Duties and Responsibilities’ paragraph of the Standards of Professional Behaviour on August 6, 2014 and August 17, 2014 were proven at a level of gross misconduct.
The IPCC investigation found cases to answer for gross misconduct against a third officer for a number of matters including honesty and integrity, creating false intelligence reports, facilitating strip searches without an appropriate adult and use of force in relation to a number of stops of Boy R and others during the August period.
In January 2017, the IPCC referred the third officer’s actions to the Crown Prosecution Service, which decided not to prosecute. As the officer had resigned from Essex Police prior to the end of the IPCC investigation, no disciplinary proceedings could be brought.
IPCC Commissioner Mary Cunneen said:
“This was a very serious investigation which highlighted concerns across a number of stops and strip searches of the same boy in just a two week period.
“These officers were in breach of various police policies in the ways they conducted themselves. Strip searching a minor without an appropriate adult present and then failing to record those searches accurately is of grave concern, and it is right that two officers have been sanctioned today.”
The IPCC investigation report will be considered for publication in due course.
