UK policeman cleared of gross misconduct for alleged removing of Sikh man’s patka

By Press Trust of India: A West Midlands Police sergeant from northern England has been cleared of gross misconduct allegations referring to his remedy of a Sikh man in custody, following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

The man had complained that his non secular head overlaying, often known as a patka, was forcibly eliminated on the Perry Barr custody suite in Birmingham, leaving him traumatised.

He additionally claimed that the disrespectful method wherein he had been handled throughout the October 2021 incident, was racial discrimination.

“Part of our role is to address incidents involving the police which have significant community impact. This matter caused local unrest, and we established early on that, contrary to some reports, the man’s head covering had not been stamped on,” stated Derrick Campbell, IOPC Regional Director for the West Midlands.

“We carried out a thorough investigation and from the evidence gathered it was our opinion that for one officer there was a case to answer for gross misconduct. That evidence has now been heard before a police disciplinary panel which found the allegations not proven,” he stated.

After a two-day listening to earlier this week earlier than an impartial panel, led by a legally certified chair, the sergeant who eliminated the top overlaying was discovered to not have breached police skilled requirements for authority, respect and courtesy, use of drive, and equality and variety.

The allegations involved his dealing with of the scenario and his determination to take away the person’s head overlaying.

The panel additionally made an order that the officer shouldn’t be named in any experiences from the proceedings, which have been organised by West Midlands Police.

The IOPC’s general investigation into the case, which was accomplished in May final 12 months, had already decided there was no case to reply for misconduct for one more six officers whose conduct was assessed, however that 4 of them would profit from participating in reflective observe to be taught from the incident.