A 16-year-old black woman affected by psychological well being points was “hit 34 times with a police baton in one minute”, resulting in a Metropolitan Police officer being dismissed.
The woman, who has studying disabilities, tried to run away whereas on an escorted stroll from a psychological well being facility in Newham on May 8, 2019.
She approached the police for assist however in an try to restrain her PC Benjamin Kemp beat her repeatedly with his baton 34 times in one minute and sprayed CS gasoline in her face earlier than one other police officer tasered her.
That’s a fee of two strikes a second for a minute.
The Met Police has apologised to the woman’s household and PC Kemp, based mostly at north east command, was dismissed with out discover following a disciplinary listening to by the IOPC. There has been no legal prosecution.
The household are calling for the CPS to rethink its determination to not convey legal prices in opposition to PC Kemp.
A relative of the woman, who has seen the video footage and was on the listening to final week, spoke to Channel 4 information on Wednesday (May 5) and known as the footage “horrific”.
She stated: “I by no means thought I’d be sat right here having to speak a couple of member of my household being subjected to such power and brutality from the police.”
In the footage, {the teenager} may be heard telling police: “I’m a psychological well being affected person, I’m weak.”
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“She was simply frightened,” stated the member of the family.
“(*34*) calmed down sufficiently for the feminine officer to stroll off, and it was whereas she was away that PC Kemp resorted to the baton.
“He simply stored hanging her.”
The lady claims the woman did “completely nothing” to impress the assault. “Not even a raised voice”, she stated.
The woman is now reportedly afraid of the police and believes “all people is out to harm her”, the girl claims.
The Metropolitan Police has apologised to the sufferer’s household
(Image: Kirsty O’Connor/PA Wire)
The household have requested for the video to not be revealed because of issues for the woman’s welfare.
“I don’t need to go alongside the George Floyd route, nevertheless it’s alongside these strains,” the relative informed Channel 4.
Detective Chief Superintendent Richard Tucker, who leads policing for the north east, described using power by Pc Kemp as “completely inappropriate”.
He informed Channel 4: “I’d say that there’s a steadiness. It was unacceptable. I apologise from the underside of my coronary heart.
“But I’d say, immediately your officers are on the market serving the general public in a method that’s in line with their values and their expectations of Londoners.”
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He added: “I wasn’t there. I haven’t spoken to PC Kemp. I’ve seen the video. I can provide an opinion – I feel he was confronted with a scene the place he misplaced management very, in a short time.
“He had his tools there. He used it inappropriately and disproportionately. I don’t know why he reacted that method.”
In an announcement launched earlier this week, DCS Tucker stated: “On behalf of the Met, I apologise to the younger lady and her household for a way he behaved and to London’s wider communities for the impression this case undoubtedly has on the belief and confidence they’ve in how we police London.
“They and the individuals of London rightly anticipate the very best requirements from their officers and on that day Pc Kemp let everybody down.”
The household’s solicitor Sophie Naftalin, of Bhatt Murphy Solicitors, informed Channel 4: “The household now need the CPS to evaluate the case.”
