PC Sacked For Using Excessive Force

An officer has been dismissed from the Metropolitan Police Service for gross misconduct.

33 year old PC John Caulfield of Hackney Borough, has been dismissed without notice after a misconduct panel found a case of gross misconduct proven.

An Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigation was launched following an allegation from a member of the public that PC Caulfield had assaulted a 19-year-old man prior to arresting him in Bowling Green Walk, N1 on Thursday 29 August 2009. PC Caulfield was charged with Actual Bodily Harm and faced two criminal trials in which the first jury failed to reach a verdict and was acquitted by a second in November 2011.

The panel found that that PC Caulfield's conduct fell well below what the public have a right to expect and the breaches found proven are so serious as to amount to gross misconduct.

PC Caulfield breached standards of professional behaviour in respect of Orders & Instructions and Duties & Responsibilities by failing to comply with Street BailPolicy.

Commander Allan Gibson, Directorate of Professional Standards said:

"There is no doubt that the actions of PC Caulfield brought discredit on the MPS and although acquitted at court, reflect badly on the thousands of officers who are honest and work tirelessly for the people of London. The panel found his use of force was unnecessary, disproportionate and unreasonable and was additionally found to have produced a misleading written account of the incident."

"Given the finding, there was only one appropriate outcome in this case and PC Caulfield was dismissed from the MPS without notice."