A Lewisham Metropolitan Police officer has received a final written warning after threatening to use a Taser on a 16-year-old boy during a stop and search in Greenwich. PC Connor Jones was involved in the incident, which took place on September 4, 2020, and has since been scrutinized by an independent misconduct panel.
The stop and search was initiated after police received a report of a young Black male allegedly wielding a samurai knife and chasing two boys near Armitage Road in Greenwich. Armed police were dispatched to the scene, where PC Jones and another officer stopped a group of five teenagers who they believed matched the description given in the call.
During the search, the boy was handcuffed, made to kneel on the road, and PC Jones pressed a Taser against the boy’s neck, warning him that it would be deployed if he moved. No weapons were found, and the group was allowed to leave.
Following the incident, a complaint was lodged and investigated by the Met’s Professional Standards Unit. The initial investigation concluded in December 2020, with no misconduct found on the part of PC Jones. However, the complainant appealed to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which launched an independent inquiry in June 2021. The IOPC directed that a gross misconduct hearing be held.
The hearing, which concluded on Friday, September 20, 2024, found that PC Jones had breached professional standards related to the use of force. It was also revealed that he had failed to complete a required use of force report and was not wearing body-worn video (BWV) during the incident, citing technical difficulties.
While the panel did not find evidence that PC Jones’ actions were racially motivated, they ruled that his use of the Taser was disproportionate and unnecessary. As a result, he has been given a final written warning, which will remain on his record for three years.
Chief Superintendent Trevor Lawry, who oversees policing for the South East Basic Command Unit, expressed regret over the incident: “We acknowledge that this was a distressing incident for the boy involved and recognise the ongoing impact it has had on both him and his family. We have previously apologised for the trauma caused, and we repeat this again today.”
Lawry emphasized the importance of accountability in the use of force and stop and search procedures: “It is right that any use of force and stop and search are scrutinised. In this case, the panel found that PC Jones’ actions were not proportionate or necessary. We understand that when stop and search is done incorrectly, it risks damaging public trust.”
He added that the police are committed to monitoring stop and search practices and working with communities to ensure it is conducted appropriately and fairly.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about police conduct during stop and searches and the need for greater transparency and accountability in policing practices.
