Cleared Met Officer could face misconduct hearing

Mr Harrington was cleared of assaulting the teenager

A Met Police officer cleared of assaulting a teenage suspect should face disciplinary proceedings for gross misconduct, says the police watchdog.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is wants PC Joseph Harrington, 29, to face a Scotland Yard hearing.

He was cleared at Southwark Crown Court of assaulting a boy, then 15, in a police cell in 2011.

The Met said it was considering taking disciplinary action.

Mr Harrington had been accused of assaulting the boy while he was being held in custody at Forest Gate police station days after riots in London in 2011.

IPCC Commissioner Mike Franklin said: "Our investigation concluded the force used by PC Harrington was neither reasonable nor was it proportionate.

'Breach of standards'

"IPCC investigators spoke to a number of witnesses, who were in the custody area at the time of the incident and, whilst he may have been verbally provocative, he was not displaying signs of violence towards any officer.

"In light of PC Harrington's acquittal, it is now for the Metropolitan Police Service to decide if his actions are a breach of the standards expected of police officers and I urge them to seriously consider the issues identified in our report."

Commander Allan Gibson, Directorate of Professional Standards at the Met, said: "As soon as the allegations about PC Harrington were brought to the attention of the Directorate of Professional Standards an investigation was commenced and we referred the matter to the IPCC.

"Now that the trial is complete, and taking into account the findings of the IPCC investigation, we will now consider proceedings for gross misconduct."