Police Sergeant Cleared After Oxford Arrest Incident
A Thames Valley Police sergeant has been cleared of misconduct over a dramatic early-morning arrest in Oxford where a man’s head was slammed against a patrol car.
The Row Outside Art Café
The violent scuffle exploded just after 3am on January 22, 2022, outside the Art Café on Queen Street. Several men were involved in the fracas when Sergeant Barber, aided by PCs Phillips and Godfrey, rushed to break up the fight.
During the turmoil, Sergeant Barber restrained one man, known as Mr A, by pressing an arm against his upper body and forcing him backwards. Mr A ended up on his knees before the sergeant delivered a knee strike aimed at subduing him, which pushed Mr A into the side of a police vehicle, causing his head to hit the car.
Allegations of Excessive Force
Sergeant Barber faced serious accusations of using excessive and disproportionate force, allegations serious enough to consider gross misconduct. The claim argued that the sergeant’s actions fell well outside professional standards.
Misconduct Panel Clears Sergeant Barber
However, a police misconduct hearing on September 18, 2024, delivered a clear verdict: no misconduct was found. The panel concluded that Sergeant Barber was performing trained restraint techniques.
“We find that in the course of performing the taught technique, PS Barber was initially unsuccessful in placing Mr A on the floor where he could be safely restrained,” the panel said.
Experts confirmed the knee strike landed on Mr A’s back, around the kidney or hip area—not on the spine as feared. As for the contact with the patrol car, the panel said it was impossible to be certain which part hit first but noted it included the chest and shoulder as well as the head.
The final ruling declared Sergeant Barber’s actions fell within police training guidelines, designed to safely control high-risk suspects in chaotic situations.
