Two Metropolitan Police officers have been dismissed after a stop-and-search of British world championships medallist Bianca Williams and Portugal Olympic sprinter Ricardo Dos Santos was found to constitute gross misconduct. The couple, who were handcuffed and searched outside their west London home in July 2020 while their baby was in the car, have alleged they were racially profiled.
The disciplinary panel found that PCs Jonathan Clapham and Sam Franks lied about smelling cannabis in Mr Dos Santos' car, breaching professional standards of honesty and integrity. All allegations against three other officers—Acting Sgt Rachel Simpson, PC Allan Casey and PC Michael Bond—were not proven, though they will undergo a reflective practice review.
Speaking after the hearing, Ms Williams described the outcome as "a massive step" but noted it "shouldn't have taken three years to get to this result." Mr Dos Santos said the officers' allegations were "dishonest" and "based on racist stereotypes," adding: "Little has changed in policing in London since the Stephen Lawrence case."
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) had brought the case, with its counsel arguing there was "institutional discrimination" in the Met. The IOPC's Steve Noonan highlighted that black people are almost nine times more likely to be stopped and searched than white people, with a lower drug find rate.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said the findings would "anger and alarm many Londoners" and underscored the challenge of changing the Met's culture. The Met apologised to the family, stating they "deserved better." The panel chairwoman, Chiew Yin Jones, said the officers' behaviour amounted to gross misconduct, noting they became "trapped in a lie" when giving evidence.
