He was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm
A serving Metropolitan Police officer has been charged with Actual Bodily Harm (ABH). PC Ben Hanscombe, 26, who is based at Peckham police station, will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday (September 15), charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The charge relates to an incident in May last year when the officer allegedly used excessive force while detaining a man during a domestic disturbance in Bermondsey. The Metropolitan Police force has not shared any further information regarding the victim’s injuries, or any other accusations made against Hascombe.
In a separate and unrelated incident, nine police officers have been suspended after the Met referred itself to the watchdog over allegations of “making discriminatory and misogynistic comments, and failing to report or challenge inappropriate behaviour.” The IOPC has said that it is investigating the behaviour of 11 current or former Met officers and one staff member based at Charing Cross Police Station in central London.
The accusations, which feature in a forthcoming BBC Panorama documentary, include excessive use of force, discriminatory and misogynistic comments, and failing to report or challenge inappropriate behaviour, the police watchdog said. The officers range in rank from police constable to sergeant.
If you need to report a police officer, you can either complain directly to The Met or contact the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) . The IOPC will forward your complaint to the relevant police force or Police and Crime Commissioner for you.
You can make a complaint on behalf of someone else, but if it progresses you’ll need to share their written consent. This doesn’t apply to parents or guardians of a child under 16 who wish to complain on their behalf.
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