A West Yorkshire Police officer has been dismissed after a man complained his head was stamped on during an arrest.
PC Cameron Lindley was called to a disturbance in Bradford in December 2021 after colleagues asked for urgent support, known as a ‘code zero’, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said on Thursday. The watchdog said that PC Lindley approached one man and assisted a colleague in bringing him to the ground.
“While the man was face down on the ground, being restrained by two officers, PC Lindley applied force to the man’s head with the sole of his boot,” the IOPC said.
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A misconduct panel found on Thursday that PC Lindley’s actions amounted to gross misconduct and he was dismissed without notice, it said. The IOPC said it became involved in the case when it carried out a review of West Yorkshire Police’s (WYP) handling of a complaint from the man.
WYP had decided the officer should face disciplinary proceedings for potential misconduct, which carries a maximum sanction of a final written warning. But the IOPC review recommended disciplinary proceedings for gross misconduct and the force agreed.
IOPC head of national operations Sunny Bhalla said: “Police officers routinely put themselves in harm’s way to protect members of the public and can use reasonable force if required to do that. However, they must use the minimum force necessary in the situation and be able to justify their actions.
“PC Lindley’s actions were dangerous, excessive and at odds with the training provided to police officers. While the vast majority of complaints are dealt with by police forces, the review system ensures complainants who are unhappy with the outcome can have their case independently scrutinised.
“Although we felt this complaint was thoroughly investigated, we disagreed with the proposed outcome and our input has ensured Pc Lindley has been held fully accountable for his actions that day.”
Detective Chief Superintendent Nicola Bryar, head of West Yorkshire Police’s Professional Standards Directorate, said: “The law recognises that there are situations where police officers may be required to use force. It is vital though that it is only used when reasonable, necessary and proportionate.
“Our officers, staff and volunteers interact with thousands of people on a daily basis and the vast majority are satisfied with the service they receive. We always strive to deliver the best service possible, however sometimes we don’t get things right and would encourage anyone who feels unsatisfied with the service they received to report it to our Professional Standards Directorate so that it can be investigated.”
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