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Avon and Somerset Police custody sergeant guilty of misconduct | Avon and Somerset Police custody sergeant guilty of misconduct |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A custody sergeant who twice hit a drunk detainee who spat in his face has been found guilty of gross misconduct. | A custody sergeant who twice hit a drunk detainee who spat in his face has been found guilty of gross misconduct. |
Sgt Martin Fox, who is due to retire, was said to be "devastated" his unblemished career would end after an incident that unfolded in seconds. | Sgt Martin Fox, who is due to retire, was said to be "devastated" his unblemished career would end after an incident that unfolded in seconds. |
An Avon and Somerset Police misconduct panel accepted the incident was a momentary loss of self-control and handed him a final written warning. | An Avon and Somerset Police misconduct panel accepted the incident was a momentary loss of self-control and handed him a final written warning. |
The incident happened on 29 August at Patchway police station. | The incident happened on 29 August at Patchway police station. |
'Extreme provocation' | 'Extreme provocation' |
The panel heard a detainee, identified only as GT, was brought into the custody suite after being arrested on suspicion of assault and criminal damage in Norrisville Road in Bristol - charges he was later convicted for, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. | The panel heard a detainee, identified only as GT, was brought into the custody suite after being arrested on suspicion of assault and criminal damage in Norrisville Road in Bristol - charges he was later convicted for, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. |
Sgt Fox tried to book him into custody but GT refused to co-operate and became increasingly aggressive. | Sgt Fox tried to book him into custody but GT refused to co-operate and became increasingly aggressive. |
CCTV footage shows Sgt Fox pulling GT by the handcuffs on to his desk, in a move he said was intended to deflate the situation and prevent his colleagues from being assaulted. | CCTV footage shows Sgt Fox pulling GT by the handcuffs on to his desk, in a move he said was intended to deflate the situation and prevent his colleagues from being assaulted. |
He used GT's hair to turn his head so they were face-to-face so they could continue the booking-in process. | He used GT's hair to turn his head so they were face-to-face so they could continue the booking-in process. |
When GT spat in his face, which the panel said was "despicable" and an act of "extreme provocation", Sgt Fox struck him, in what was described as a "hammer blow". | When GT spat in his face, which the panel said was "despicable" and an act of "extreme provocation", Sgt Fox struck him, in what was described as a "hammer blow". |
The officer said he used minimal force and it was an "instinctive reaction". | The officer said he used minimal force and it was an "instinctive reaction". |
He claimed the second strike, when GT was facing downwards, was to control the situation and prevent him spitting again. | He claimed the second strike, when GT was facing downwards, was to control the situation and prevent him spitting again. |
Representing Avon and Somerset Police at the two-day hearing, barrister James Berry said the second strike was "gratuitous" because GT was already under control - Sgt Fox's other hand was on GT's head and he was being restrained by the two other officers. | Representing Avon and Somerset Police at the two-day hearing, barrister James Berry said the second strike was "gratuitous" because GT was already under control - Sgt Fox's other hand was on GT's head and he was being restrained by the two other officers. |
Chair of the panel, Andrew Midgley said: "There was a serious failing of judgement. Sgt Fox breached the standards of professional behaviour. The breach amounted to gross misconduct." | Chair of the panel, Andrew Midgley said: "There was a serious failing of judgement. Sgt Fox breached the standards of professional behaviour. The breach amounted to gross misconduct." |
Supt Richard Corrrigan, head of Professional Standards, said Sgt Fox had "failed to show self-control". | |
He added that Sgt Fox had "used excessive force to restrain a detainee and his actions were not reasonable or proportionate in the circumstances". |
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