Met PC used low level of force on sprinter, tribunal hears

A Metropolitan Police officer has told a tribunal he did not rise to "provocation" by an Olympic sprinter during a stop and search in London.

Portugal athlete Ricardo dos Santos, 28, and his partner, British sprinter Bianca Williams, 29, say they were racially profiled during the incident on 4 July 2020.

Five Met Police officers deny gross misconduct.

PC Michael Bond said he used a "very, very low" force level on Mr Dos Santos.

The tribunal has heard police followed and stopped the couple as they drove to their Maida Vale home from training, with their baby son, who was then three months old, in the back seat of their Mercedes.

Both were handcuffed and searched on suspicion of having drugs and weapons. Nothing was found and neither was arrested.

PC Bond told the hearing that he treated Mr Dos Santos with "respect and courtesy" during the search.

The panel heard the officer used a "normal police hold" to place the athlete's hands behind his back to allow handcuffing and then placed a hand on his shoulder to prevent him "thrashing" back.

Asked if race played any role in his decision to use force, PC Bond said: "Absolutely not."

He insisted he did not know what ethnicity Mr Dos Santos was in the lead-up to the search.

The officer said: "I was very neutral. I was polite. I was calm, treated him with the respect and courtesy I would expect to be treated with."

Asked to comment on Mr Dos Santos' behaviour, he said: "Rude. Swore at me."

He said the sprinter called the officers racist and used an expletive, and "made fun of how much he suspected we earned".

"Did you rise to that provocation at all?" PC Bond's barrister asked.

"No," he said.

The panel heard the officer had an exchange with Mr Dos Santos about him being a sprinter in which PC Bond told him to "act like one" and behave like the "role model" professional athletes should be.

The officer repeatedly told the panel that he smelled cannabis during the stop and search and called suggestions that this was made up "very very untrue".

PC Bond said he acted in line with the code of ethics and standards of professional behaviour.

PC Bond and Acting Sgt Rachel Simpson, PC Allan Casey, PC Jonathan Clapham, PC Sam Franks deny all accusations, including allegations they breached police standards over equality and diversity during the stop and search.

Acting Sgt Simpson and constables Clapham, Bond and Franks also face allegations that their actions amounted to a breach of professional behaviour standards in relation to the use of force.

They are said to have failed in relation to their levels of authority, respect and courtesy, as well as in their duties and responsibilities.

PC Casey is also accused of breaching professional standards in the way he carried out his duties and responsibilities or gave orders and instructions.

It is also alleged that the honesty and integrity of PCs Casey, Clapham, Bond and Franks breached professional behaviour standards.

The hearing continues.

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