Two Metropolitan Police officers have been dismissed without notice after a six-week misconduct hearing found they lied about smelling cannabis during a stop-and-search in July 2020 involving athlete Bianca Williams and her partner, Mr. dos Santos, in central London.
The incident occurred when Territorial Support Group officers noticed a car driving erratically with tinted windows in Maida Vale amid a rise in violent crime. The vehicle reportedly sped away as police pursued it, with allegations of an unauthorised chase and the car being boxed in, although these claims were never proven.
Inside the car were Ms. Williams, her partner, and their 11-month-old baby. Ms. Williams recorded the dramatic stop and shared the footage online, which quickly went viral and sparked public outrage over the officers’ behaviour.
The Metropolitan Police maintained that the stop was lawful, citing the driver’s dangerous driving, attempt to flee, and refusal to exit the vehicle. While claims of excessive force during Mr. dos Santos’ arrest were investigated, they were ultimately found unproven.
Rick Prior, vice chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, expressed strong support for the dismissed officers on X. He announced plans to appeal the “extremely disappointing” decision and criticised the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) for issuing a “highly misleading” and politically influenced statement.
A JustGiving page set up for the sacked officers, PC Jonathan Clapham and PC Sam Franks, has raised nearly £50,000 to assist their families financially following their sudden dismissal. The page’s creator highlighted the urgent need for support due to the serious personal and financial impact the officers have faced.
Originally published by UKNIP.
