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The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it had “reconsidered” its position.
“We initially said the Metropolitan Police Service should investigate the complaint themselves, but following the concerns raised by the boy’s mother, and to provide additional assurance to the wider community, we will now independently investigate,” it announced.
A press conference was held at Hackney’s IDPAD Centre yesterday (October 19), where community leaders said the incident was evidence of “systemic racism” in the Met Police.
Speakers said a 13-year-old boy and his much younger sister were playing with bright blue and pink water pistols in Stoke Newington in July when a police officer saw them and reported “a Black male with a gun”.
A police van was scrambled to the scene and reportedly rammed the boy off his bike or scooter before he was surrounded by armed police and arrested.
He was later de-arrested but reportedly suffered injuries and has experienced “continuous” nightmares.
The Met referred itself to the IOPC, but the watchdog told the force to investigate itself.
It cleared itself of any wrongdoing.
A public complaint was made to the IOPC, alleging racism.
The IOPC again directed the Met to investigate itself – but it has now taken the complaint back to investigate independently.
Charmaine Arbouin, the IOPC’s London regional director, said: “This was clearly a distressing incident for this boy, his sister and mother and it is right that the complaint is investigated.
“We don’t have the resources to investigate all complaints that are sent to us by the police so when they make a referral we decide if the force should investigate it themselves or if we should take it…
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