Two police officers are set to appear in court after being charged with assaulting a 16-year-old boy. Pc Sevda Gonen, 28, faces two counts of assault by beating, while Pc Stuart Price, aged 32, is accused of one count of the same offence.
The officers are scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday to address the charges stemming from an incident on November 14. The allegations arose while the officers were transporting the 16-year-old to a hospital for a mental health assessment.
According to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), the constables are accused of employing unlawful force during a search. Additionally, Mr Gonen faces a second charge for allegedly slapping the boy’s face and pulling his hair.
The case came to light after the Metropolitan Police made a mandatory referral to the IOPC in December 2023. Subsequently, the watchdog conducted an investigation and forwarded a file to the Crown Prosecution Service in April, leading to the charges being laid against the officers.