Bianca Williams: Five police officers investigated over stopping British athlete

Five police officers are being investigated for misconduct after Great Britain sprinter Bianca Williams and her partner were handcuffed during a stop and search.

Williams claimed officers racially profiled her in the incident on 4 July in Maida Vale, west London, which saw the pair being separated from their three-month-old son.

The Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick later apologised to Williams and told MPs that two officers had also spoken to Ms Williams and her partner, Ricardo dos Santos, to say sorry for the “distress” caused.

Afterwards Ms Williams said in a statement: “We have now received an apology for the distress the incident caused us, but significantly, not for the wholly unjustified actions that officers took against our family.”

The inquiry is being carried out by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

The IOPC said the five officers would be investigated for potential breaches of police standards of professional behaviour relating to use of force; duties and responsibilities; and authority, respect and courtesy.

The Met Police said in a statement: “The officers involved are from the Territorial Support Group. No officer is suspended or subject to restricted duties.

“The MPS continues to fully co-operate with the IOPC investigation.”

Scotland Yard previously said nothing was found during the search and no arrests were made, but officers had stopped the vehicle after it was seen being driven suspiciously and on the wrong side of the road.

Ms Williams has denied this, saying the car was “never” on the wrong side of the road.

Initial bodycam and social media footage of the encounter was checked by the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards, the force said.

The body decided none of the officers’ actions justified disciplinary proceedings.

Three days later, on 7 July, after the Met was tagged in a social media post by Ms Williams, it referred the matter to the IOPC, citing her complaint and “the significant public interest” in what had happened.

According to the force’s statement on Thursday, the IOPC has told the Met “a number of officers should be investigated for potential breaches of the standards of professional behaviour”.

The Met said its view was that the alleged failings would, if proven, “only amount to minor breaches of the standards of professional behaviour or performance-related issues”.

“These would not be at the level of misconduct and so suitable for reflective practice.”

(c) Sky News 2020: Bianca Williams: Five police officers investigated over stopping British athlete