BTP Officer convicted of assault

[whole diary]

[TaplowGreen]

..........on a 15 year old girl.

https://www.btp.police.uk/news/btp/news/in-the-courts/btp-officer-convicted-of-assault--london/

[a-driver]

..........on a 15 year old girl.

https://www.btp.police.uk/news/btp/news/in-the-courts/btp-officer-convicted-of-assault--london/

It doesn’t state how the 15 year behaved….. did she spit or bite? 

Give the story some context. There’s obviously more to it.  I highly doubt the girl willingly complied with the instructions she was given.

[ChrisB]

There was obviously CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele-Vision) as some of it has appeared on the tabloids websites

[a-driver]

There was obviously CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele-Vision) as some of it has appeared on the tabloids websites

I've seen some CCTV which only showed some of the incident without any audio. 

The problem is, there's far too many of that age, on and away from the railway, who think or know that they are untouchable by the law.  Outcomes like this only serve to make the lives of police officers even harder.  If they think they're untouchable by the law at 15 years old, they'll always think that way.  In a years time, they'll be considered responsible enough to vote!

In this particular instance, you need to see the full CCTV of the incident with audio to draw a conclusion.  There's obviously barrier staff present who didn't consider the response of the police officer to be heavy handed enough to intervene.  Barrier staff told the two individuals they couldn't come through without a ticket yet they choose to ignore the advice and pushed their way through the barrier, a clear lack of respect.  That 15 year and all her friends now know they can all just push through the barriers and nothing will happen.   

[Phantom]

There was obviously CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele-Vision) as some of it has appeared on the tabloids websites

I've seen some CCTV which only showed some of the incident without any audio. 

The problem is, there's far too many of that age, on and away from the railway, who think or know that they are untouchable by the law.  Outcomes like this only serve to make the lives of police officers even harder.  If they think they're untouchable by the law at 15 years old, they'll always think that way.  In a years time, they'll be considered responsible enough to vote!

In this particular instance, you need to see the full CCTV of the incident with audio to draw a conclusion.  There's obviously barrier staff present who didn't consider the response of the police officer to be heavy handed enough to intervene.  Barrier staff told the two individuals they couldn't come through without a ticket yet they choose to ignore the advice and pushed their way through the barrier, a clear lack of respect.  That 15 year and all her friends now know they can all just push through the barriers and nothing will happen.   

Interesting you originally posted about finding the full facts, but then the post above makes all king of unfounded assumptions about the situation, conjecture at its worst!

As a point about the staff not stepping in, when has anyone ever stopped BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) or the wider police force from stopping doing something wrong.... It simply would never happen for fear of reprisals

[a-driver]

Interesting you originally posted about finding the full facts, but then the post above makes all king of unfounded assumptions about the situation, conjecture at its worst!

As a point about the staff not stepping in, when has anyone ever stopped BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) or the wider police force from stopping doing something wrong.... It simply would never happen for fear of reprisals

Sorry, I don’t see any unfounded assumptions in my post.

Gateline staff and BTP work together on a daily basis and will know the names of officers in some locations on a first name basis, there would be no fear of reprisals. 

[JayMac]

The problem is, there's far too many of that age, on and away from the railway, who think or know that they are untouchable by the law

Indeed. Far to many police officers, from raw recruits to seasoned veterans, who think they can get away with breaking the law to enforce the law. Often they are untouchable. Colleagues covering for them, lying in statements, lying in court. The few that get caught are the tip of a very large iceberg.

[grahame]

The problem is, there's far too many of that age, on and away from the railway, who think or know that they are untouchable by the law

Indeed. Far to many police officers, from raw recruits to seasoned veterans, who think they can get away with breaking the law to enforce the law. Often they are untouchable. Colleagues covering for them, lying in statements, lying in court. The few that get caught are the tip of a very large iceberg.

Very sadly, I have to agree with you.  So many things I have seen that confirm that view.  The criticism does not apply to all police or security officers but, indeed, I would personally be very stretched to point out the breaking of rules by the very person employed to apply them.  Recent example at Southend ... probably by someone who didn't even think about how his action looked.

[Chris from Nailsea]

To be fair to member a-driver, in that selective quote he was referring to the 15 year old girl, not police officers of any particular age. 

[TaplowGreen]

The Court considered based on the evidence that it was neither reasonable, proportionate nor necessary for PC Adrian Young to put the child in a headlock or chokehold, and so he was convicted of assault.

Seems pretty clear cut to me.

Agree with a-driver's point about the increasing prevalence of feral children however.

[JayMac]

With ad driven social media and news media outlets I'd say there's and increased reporting of 'feral children' stories.

In the year ending March 2024, there were around 35,600 proven offences committed by children which resulted in a caution or sentence at court. The number of proven offences was 61% lower than 10 years ago.

There were 58,900 arrests of children in the year ending March 2024. 46% lower than 2014.

So, the perception of an 'increasing prevelence' isn't borne out by the statistics. Even with today's social media and instant news hasn't it always been the case of older generations decrying modern youth?

[grahame]

So, the perception of an 'increasing prevelence' isn't borne out by the statistics. Even with today's social media and instant news hasn't it always been the case of older generations decrying modern youth?

Yes - it has always been the case that the older generation decries modern youth.   However, the report and prosecution statistics (if I read them right) relate to arrests made and offences proven, and could the dramatic reduction in the numbers relate to how we and the systems have changed and far fewer of the still-occurring-at-the-same-rate incidents are actually reported / investigated?

[Chris from Nailsea]

An update, from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Police officer sentenced over teen headlock

A police officer who put a 15-year-old girl in a headlock while arresting her for pushing through a ticket barrier has been given a community order.

PC Adrian Young was convicted of assault by beating last month following a trial at Westminster Magistrates' Court. The 48-year-old, of Spalding, Lincolnshire, has been sentenced to a 12-month community order, including a rehabilitation activity requirement of 10 days, and 150 hours' unpaid work.

British Transport Police (BTP^▸ (British Transport Police)) described Young's actions as "appalling", adding that he had demonstrated "a completely unnecessary and unacceptable use of force against a child". He remains suspended from duty.

BTP officers responded to a request for assistance from railway staff on 22 September 2024 after the girl pushed her way through ticket barriers at Camden Road Overground station.

CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele-Vision) footage played to the court showed Young restraining the girl by placing her in a headlock. She remained in the headlock for about 30 seconds before the constable pushed her back through the ticket barrier and placed his hand around her throat while pushing her up against a ticket machine.

Young, who has served in the police for more than 19 years, handcuffed and arrested the child. She was later de-arrested at the scene.

District Judge Nina Tempia said the incident would have caused the girl "psychological distress".

Prosecutor Barto De Lotbiniere told the court: "There's clear evidence to say this is a victim who was vulnerable due to her age and also the circumstances of the time."

Defending Young, Kevin Baumber said the officer had used "excessive force in a lawful detention" and there was "no choking and no strangulation". Mr Baumber added: "The mistakes Mr Young made were all in flow of an active incident that was made more difficult by an act of physical resistance by the complainant. In a situation where there was grounds for lawful detention, there was also active verbal and physical interference by her friend that made the job the defendant was trying to do more difficult."

BTP Assistant Chief Constable Sean O'Callaghan said: "I'd like to be absolutely clear that the actions of PC Young during this incident were appalling, demonstrating a completely unnecessary and unacceptable use of force against a child. Police officers are rightly expected to maintain control of any situation and by not doing so, PC Young has undermined public confidence in BTP and the high standards we hold our officers to every day. We thank the IOPC for their investigation and will be looking to progress with internal disciplinary proceedings as soon as possible."

[JayMac]

An appropriate sentence with, I suspect, small premiums for the aggravating factors of being a police officer and pleading not guilty.

I don't think he'll be a police officer for much longer.