An Indian-origin police officer was fired from Scotland Yard after a disciplinary tribunal concluded she had used unreasonable force on duty two years ago while arresting a man in north London.
PC Mandeep Dharni, assigned to the Metropolitan Police’s North West Basic Command Unit (BCU) in the UK capital, appeared at a misconduct hearing last week in relation to an incident that occurred in a car park in Barnet in September 2021.
Police Constable Dharni was accused of failing to use adequate force and of failing to respond with authority, respect, and courtesy when restraining a man, who was later charged with criminal damage and public order violation.
“Dharni had breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour at the level of gross misconduct in relation to Authority, Respect, and Courtesy, Use of Force and Discreditable Conduct after she used unreasonable force on duty during the arrest of a man”, according to the hearing.
“All our officers know they will be held to account for any use of force while on duty”, said Chief Superintendent Dan Knowles, who oversees Met’s policing in north-west London.
“On this occasion, PC Dharni went beyond what was acceptable or reasonable in the situation, especially as there were a number of other officers in attendance helping to detain the suspect”, Chief Superintendent continued.
The officer’s duties were restricted after a video of the incident was circulated on social media. The case was referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which referred it back to the Metropolitan Police Service’s Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS). After hearing all of the evidence, the misconduct panel determined that the claims were proven, and she was fired without notice.
