Two Metropolitan police officers have been immediately sacked following a gross misconduct hearing for punching and kicking a child during his arrest and lying about the incident.
The hearing, which followed an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct, heard that police constables Alexei Zalesskiy and Conor Ryan were accused of using excessive force on the 14-year-old boy, who was part of a group of young people gathered at Finsbury Park, north London, in April 2021.
During attempts to disperse the group, the boy became agitated at being pushed by police. He started shouting at officers and spat in an officer’s face, before running from the officers, who chased him on foot to arrest him for assaulting an officer.
The boy was placed in handcuffs and arrested for assault on an emergency worker and a public order offence. The boy was not charged and no further action was taken.
During the IOPC investigation, it was found Zalesskiy punched him at least once and Ryan kicked him in the neck and head area and struck him in the thigh with his knee.
Evidence gathered by IOPC investigators included police body-worn video and CCTV, which showed the officers punching and kicking the boy.
The IOPC said they found evidence that the officers had lied on their statements immediately after the incident.
The investigation took place after a voluntary referral in April 2021 from the Metropolitan police service (MPS) about the officers’ conduct. The Crown Prosecution Service decided not to press charges against the officers.
A disciplinary hearing organised by the force and led by an independent and legally qualified chair, which concluded on Wednesday, determined the officers had breached police standards of professional behaviour for use of force and honesty and integrity.
The sackings are the latest in a string of Met officers being found guilty of gross misconduct.
In April, eight serving and former Metropolitan police officers were found guilty of “gross misconduct” over discriminatory and offensive messages they shared, including some that made fun of Katie Price’s disabled son, Harvey.
Amanda Rowe, the director of the IOPC, said of the latest sackings: “The force used on this child was neither reasonable nor proportionate in the circumstances.
“The public must have confidence that when officers are required to use force to detain and arrest members of the public, they will only use the minimum amount of force necessary.
“To compound matters, they then tried to justify their actions by lying on their initial statements following the incident. Their dismissals send a strong message that there will be serious consequences for police officers who use gratuitous violence and are dishonest about their actions.
“Both officers will also be added to the police barred list, preventing them from future employment with any police service.”
