A Metropolitan Police officer has been dismissed after failing to mention in his statement that he punched a man in the face during an arrest in an attempt to conceal his use of excessive force.
PC Peter Odusote will be placed on the College of Policing barred list following the misconduct hearing which concluded on Thursday, 26 February. The list prevents individuals from being employed by police, local policing bodies, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, or His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services.
The panel heard PC Odusote, attached to the Central West Basic Command Unit, detained a man committing criminal damage to a police car outside Charing Cross police station on 15 August 2023. While carrying out the arrest, the man spat at the officer.
PC Odusote responded by punching him in the face, using excessive force. He then omitted any mention of the punch in his statement about the incident in order to conceal what had happened.
The officer was found to have breached the standards of professional behaviour in relation to use of force and honesty and integrity. The dishonesty finding relates to his failure to disclose the punch in his official account of the arrest.
Superintendent Owen Renowden stated: “Both we and the public expect officers to uphold the highest standards, which includes using necessary, reasonable and proportionate force. On this occasion the officer’s actions were not acceptable and it is right that they have been held to account for their actions.”
The barred list placement represents a permanent barrier to PC Odusote working in policing or related oversight bodies. The College of Policing maintains the list as a safeguard against dismissed officers finding employment elsewhere in law enforcement.
