The West Midlands Police Federation has condemned the decision to bring a gross misconduct case against a sergeant who removed a Sikh man's patka while he was in custody, stating the matter should never have reached a hearing. The officer was cleared of wrongdoing at a misconduct hearing on 1 August, but the Federation said the case took too long to resolve and caused 'untold damage' to the sergeant.
The incident occurred in October 2021 at Perry Barr police station in Birmingham, where the Sikh man alleged his patka was forcibly removed, leaving him traumatised and claiming he was a victim of a 'racial hate crime'. West Midlands Police apologised for the distress caused, a move the Federation's discipline lead, Dave Hadley, called 'an absolute disgrace' as an investigation was ongoing.
The misconduct panel, in detailed findings published on Thursday, expressed 'bewilderment' and 'alarm' that the case was brought, noting that CCTV footage clearly showed the sergeant did not rip the patka off but attempted to untie a knot while the detainee struggled. The panel stated the individual made the situation deteriorate, making the use of force a 'necessity', and suggested he may have chosen not to replace his head covering because he knew cameras were present.
Richard Cooke, chairman of the regional Federation, said the hearing may have 'reinforced the idea within the community that there was something more' to the case, adding that the community had been 'duped' by a 'false narrative'. He emphasised that frontline officers have a difficult job and legitimate reasons for searches, and that items can be secreted under headwear.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which investigated the complaint, said it fulfilled its legal obligation and challenged anyone who believes it breached procedure to follow established channels.
