A police officer is under criminal investigation for the potential offence of common assault, after Sex Education star Reece Richards claimed he was the subject of an “unlawful arrest” earlier this year, the Independent Office For Police Conduct (IOPC) has confirmed.
The IOPC said the same officer was being investigated for potential gross misconduct, while a second police officer is being investigated for potential misconduct.
Richards claimed in an Instagram post he had been sprayed with an incapacitating liquid by police and was thrown to the ground and kicked by officers in Fulham, west London, in September this year, after being mistaken for a suspect, which he claimed he “didn’t fit the description” of.
An IOPC spokesperson told the PA news agency: “Our investigation into the incident on Fulham Palace Road, West London on September 4 is ongoing. “The investigation is looking into the use of force by Met Police officers during the arrest of a man, who was later dearrested.
“In November, we advised an officer that they were under criminal investigation for the potential offence of common assault. The same officer is also being investigated for potential gross misconduct and a second officer is being investigated for potential misconduct.
“This does not mean that disciplinary or criminal proceedings will necessarily follow. At the end of our investigation, we will decide whether any officers should face disciplinary proceedings and whether any referral should be made to the Crown Prosecution Service.”
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