West Midlands Police officers and staff to face misconduct proceedings

1 Nov 2016 01:14 PM

Eight police officers and one member of police staff will face misconduct proceedings following an IPCC investigation into the alleged assault and racial abuse of a man arrested at his Birmingham home by West Midlands Police.

Previous referrals in relation to the matter led to the IPCC determining in June 2013 that an independent investigation should take place.

That looked into Donville Lorenzo’s complaints about his treatment during his arrest and detention at Bournville Police Station in November 2007, and his dissatisfaction with the standard of a local investigation carried out by the force’s Professional Standards Department in 2008.

He also alleged that police colluded over witness statements they produced in respect of an alleged assault by him against an officer in custody.

No action was taken against Mr Lorenzo over the incident which led to police attending his home and arresting him, and his conviction for assaulting an officer in custody was later quashed on appeal.

Following the completion of the IPCC investigation nine police officers and staff will now face misconduct proceedings. 

Another two former officers were found by West Midlands Police to have cases to answer for gross misconduct and misconduct but as they have retired no action can be taken against them.

There will also be no action taken against a former officer who is now carrying out a civilian role with a different force. The former officer’s new force disagreed that there was a case to answer for misconduct and that was accepted by the IPCC. 

The actions of a further eight police officers were investigated and they were found to have no case to answer. 

IPCC Commissioner for the West Midlands, Derrick Campbell, said: “This was a complicated case given the length of time since the original incident, the legal background to it and the nature of the allegations.

“We have conducted a very thorough investigation and having discussed our report with the force it was agreed that a total of nine officers and staff should face misconduct proceedings, and that will take place in due course.”

The misconduct proceedings to be held on dates to be fixed are for: