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| Pc quits over monkey noise taunt | Pc quits over monkey noise taunt |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A Metropolitan Police officer who made monkey noises at a black prisoner in a holding cage has been forced to resign. | A Metropolitan Police officer who made monkey noises at a black prisoner in a holding cage has been forced to resign. |
| The incident happened at Plumstead police station, south-east London, in July 2005, after Wayne Bell arrested Anthony Housden on a train. | The incident happened at Plumstead police station, south-east London, in July 2005, after Wayne Bell arrested Anthony Housden on a train. |
| A High Court judge quashed an earlier decision that overturned a misconduct panel ruling and saved Mr Bell's job. | A High Court judge quashed an earlier decision that overturned a misconduct panel ruling and saved Mr Bell's job. |
| The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said: "There is no place for racism" in the service. | The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said: "There is no place for racism" in the service. |
| Badly-behaved chimp | Badly-behaved chimp |
| Pc Neil Wakeling, who witnessed the incident but did not report it, has been reprimanded and fined the maximum 13 days' pay. | |
| After his arrest Mr Housden was taken to Plumstead police station and placed in a metal mesh holding cage, where he was kept for about 30 minutes and was extremely abusive to officers nearby. | After his arrest Mr Housden was taken to Plumstead police station and placed in a metal mesh holding cage, where he was kept for about 30 minutes and was extremely abusive to officers nearby. |
| The police service has clearly taken on board the seriousness of the case and imposed an appropriate penalty IPCC | The police service has clearly taken on board the seriousness of the case and imposed an appropriate penalty IPCC |
| The judge said Mr Bell, an officer of seven years, told Mr Housden he was behaving like a badly-behaved chimp and made a monkey impression. | The judge said Mr Bell, an officer of seven years, told Mr Housden he was behaving like a badly-behaved chimp and made a monkey impression. |
| Mr Bell was originally charged with committing a racially-motivated offence, but the prosecution was dismissed at Bow Street Magistrates' Court in March 2006. | Mr Bell was originally charged with committing a racially-motivated offence, but the prosecution was dismissed at Bow Street Magistrates' Court in March 2006. |
| In October last year a misconduct hearing required both men to resign for breaching the police code of conduct. | In October last year a misconduct hearing required both men to resign for breaching the police code of conduct. |
| However, a review by Assistant Commissioner Andy Hayman reduced Mr Bell's penalty to a fine and cleared Pc Wakeling. | However, a review by Assistant Commissioner Andy Hayman reduced Mr Bell's penalty to a fine and cleared Pc Wakeling. |
| The IPCC then took the case to the High Court where the decision was overruled and a fresh review of the case upheld the original findings. | The IPCC then took the case to the High Court where the decision was overruled and a fresh review of the case upheld the original findings. |
| Welcoming the decision IPCC Commissioner Mehmuda Mian Pritchard said: "The police service has clearly taken on board the seriousness of the case and imposed an appropriate penalty." | Welcoming the decision IPCC Commissioner Mehmuda Mian Pritchard said: "The police service has clearly taken on board the seriousness of the case and imposed an appropriate penalty." |