The incident happened at Camden Road station in September last year
A British Transport Police (BTP) officer has been found guilty of assaulting a teenage ‘fare evader’ in North London. PC Adrian Young put the 15-year-girl in a headlock at Camden Road station on September 22 last year when London Overground staff called for assistance.
CCTV caught the 48-year-old restraining the youngster for around 30 seconds then placing his hands on her neck and pushing her up against a ticket machine. He proceeded to handcuff and arrest her, but she was later dearrested at the scene.
One shocked witness reported the incident to BTP, leading to an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). The Crown Prosecution Service authorised a charge in March 2025, and today (October 8) PC Young was found guilty at Westminster Magistrates’ Court after a one-day trial.
IOPC Director Emily Barry said: “All police officers are trained to use force that is necessary, proportionate and reasonable in the circumstances. On this occasion, there was no lawful reason for the force used by PC Young, which could have resulted in serious injuries, particularly as he was dealing with a child who was considerably smaller than him.
“The incident was witnessed by several members of the public who expressed concerns at the scene about the officer’s actions, with one of the witnesses making a complaint to BTP that ultimately led to us carrying out an independent investigation. This shows that the public can have confidence in the police complaints system and that the IOPC will hold officers to account for their actions, with PC Young now convicted of a criminal offence.”.
PC Young is due to be sentenced on Thursday, November 13. He now also faces a gross misconduct hearing that could see him chucked out the force.
Sign up to our London Crimewatch WhatsApp community for the latest major court updates and breaking news delivered straight to your phone. Sign up HERE. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the MyLondon team. We also treat our subscribers to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. To unsubscribe, click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘exit group’. If you’re curious, you can read our privacy notice.
