A disciplinary panel has concluded that two Metropolitan Police officers engaged in gross misconduct after they subjected two athletes to a stop-and-search in west London. Bianca Williams, a British world championships medallist, and Ricardo Dos Santos, a Portuguese Olympic sprinter, were stopped and handcuffed outside their home in July 2020 while their baby was in the car. The couple accused the officers of racially profiling them. Officers searched the pair, claiming they were suspicious of drugs and weapons, but eventually found nothing.
The incident caused outrage as Williams filmed it, and their coach Linford Christie posted the footage online. Five officers were facing accusations of gross misconduct, though all denied the claims. The disciplinary hearing found PC Jonathan Clapham and PC Sam Franks lied about smelling cannabis in Dos Santos’ car, leading them to breach professional standards of police behaviour. The panel ruled it was likely the officers trapped themselves in a lie when they gave evidence.
While the panel cleared Acting Sgt Rachel Simpson, PC Allan Casey, and PC Michael Bond, the two offending officers still face potential dismissal from the force. Sanctions against them are scheduled to be delivered by the panel on Friday. The Independent Office for Police Conduct, which oversaw the case, argued the incident was part of “institutional discrimination” in the Metropolitan Police.
The incident has shone a light on the issue of “driving while black”, with Dos Santos stating he was “afraid” for the safety of his partner and three-month-old son. In addition, he has been stopped nine times within four weeks of buying a car in 2018, highlighting the disproportionate frequency with which racially minoritised individuals may be stopped and searched. Williams herself has been successful professionally, having achieved a bronze in the 4x100m at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, along with numerous other gold and silver athletic accolades.
The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of social justice movements, including those focused on racial equality and policing. The verdicts in such cases have come under increasing scrutiny, with many pointing to a lack of public trust in the police force if behaviours like this are not addressed. Further concerns have been raised over potential police bias and the need for institutional reform
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