The police misconduct hearing for the Metropolitan Police officers accused of racially profiling Team GB sprinter Bianca Williams and her partner Ricardo Dos Santos has heard that Dos Santos appeared “nervous and aggressive” during the stop and search. Body-worn camera footage played to the hearing showed Dos Santos handcuffed during the incident on 4 July 2020. The couple were stopped outside their home in Maida Vale, west London, and had their three-month-old baby with them in their car. Both were handcuffed and searched on suspicion of having drugs and weapons – and nothing was found.
PC Jonathan Clapham, one of the five officers facing misconduct charges, told the hearing that Dos Santos was “pacing from side to side, not keeping his hands still, as if he was nervous, avoiding contact with police”. He said, “It appears to me that he had been potentially very nervous and angry and potentially could have had things in the vehicle.” However, in the footage played, Dos Santos says he has previously come into contact with police and had previously been stopped for “DWB, driving while black” and tells them to check his licence which should be in the car.
PC Clapham said the officers were not given a reason for the previous contact and “it again demonstrated an evasive attitude to police” and “it demonstrated to me that he was still trying to hide something”. The officer also said he acted in response to “the nature of how he drove the Mercedes vehicle, the clear refusal to abide by directions to stop” and “his aggressive persistent behaviour, initially, and his nervous behaviour throughout – that is what affected my dealings with him”.
Acting PS Rachel Simpson, PC Allan Casey, PC Clapham, PC Michael Bond and PC Sam Franks deny all charges, including allegations they breached police standards over equality and diversity during the stop and search. The hearing was adjourned to Monday.
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