Two cops caught out for using excessive force and lying about it after chasing a knife-wielding teen in North London.
Gross Misconduct Uncovered at North Area Command
PC Alexei Zalesskiy and PC Conor Ryan have been slammed for gross misconduct. Both officers, attached to the North Area Command Unit, were found guilty of breaching key police standards on use of force and honesty.
Incident Sparks Furious Misconduct Hearing
The controversy stems from an incident on 17 April 2021 in Wilberforce Road, N4, where the pair responded to reports of a large group of youths, possibly armed with knives, causing chaos. When a 14-year-old boy spat at them and ran off, the officers pursued and arrested him using what a panel described as “excessive force.”
Dishonesty Adds Fuel to the Fire
Not only did Zalesskiy and Ryan overstep the mark on force, but they also lied in their official statements about the event. The panel, led by an independent legal chair, confirmed their behaviour was well below the mark.
Detective Chief Superintendent Caroline Haines, lead for North Area policing, said: “Officers have to act with restraint and the public of course expect them to be honest about their actions. Action will be taken against any officer whose behaviour falls below that which is expected. We are determined to drive up standards, and those who fail to meet those standards have no place in the Met.”
Officers Barred from Future Policing Roles
The duo will now be put on the College of Policing’s Barred List, banning them from working in any police force, oversight bodies like the Independent Office for Police Conduct, or the Fire and Rescue Service.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct led the probe, passing the file to the Crown Prosecution Service. CPS deemed the evidence insufficient to bring criminal charges.
