Thames Valley Police officer sacked after kneeling on man's head
- Published
Oliver Downing was dismissed following a hearing at Thames Valley Police's HQ in Kidlington, Oxfordshire
A police officer found to have knelt on an autistic teenager's head and punched him in the face has been sacked.
Thames Valley Police's former PC Oliver Downing was sent with other officers to deal with a reported fight near a petrol station in Slough, Berkshire.
He was found to have punched a father and son who he wrongly believed had been involved in the incident.
An independent panel found the former officer's use of force was unnecessary and disproportionate.
In March 2022, the father and son, who was 19 at the time, were on the school run home when officers incorrectly thought they had been involved in the fight near the Texaco in Farnham Road.
The father stopped his car by mounting the kerb after being pursued by a marked police car. Mr Downing withdrew his taser and pointed it at the car.
'Held accountable'
His autistic son got out, and Mr Downing and other officers took him to the floor, fearing he was armed.
The panel found Mr Downing punched him in the face and pushed down on the side of the son's face with his hand before replacing that with his knee so he could be handcuffed.
He also punched the father in the lower back to allow him to be handcuffed.
The pair were searched but found to be innocent and freed.
Mr Downing had previously been given a written warning for using police resources to check on his former partner for a non-policing purpose, as well as sending "unwanted and unwarranted messages" to them.
In a statement through their solicitors, the father and son said they hoped the case "will serve as a reminder that anyone can be held accountable for their actions".
They said they also hoped that "any police interactions with people with disabilities are considered and appropriate measures are taken" as a result.
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