Officers cleared of wrongdoing following conclusion of misconduct hearing

Two officers have been cleared of wrongdoing following the conclusion of a misconduct hearing.

The panel found allegations against PCs Danielle Barnes and Elizabeth McAleenan not proven following the restraint and death of Kevin Clarke in March 2018 in Lewisham.

The officers, both attached to South East Command unit at the time, were said to have breached police standards of professional behaviour in relation to honesty and integrity and duties and responsibilities.

They were alleged to have been dishonest under oath at an inquest into Mr Clarke’s death in 2020 by stating they did not hear him saying he couldn’t breathe, and then failed to take action to protect his welfare.

Superintendent Louise Sargent, in charge of policing in Catford where the incident happened, said:

“Throughout this hearing our thoughts and sympathies have been with Mr Clarke’s family who undoubtedly have found it distressing to re-live what happened to their loved one.

“The panel accepted that the two officers did not hear what Mr Clarke was saying, as he became increasingly agitated and his speech very muffled and then inaudible.

“They very carefully considered a large amount of officers’ body worn video from the incident which could not prove Mr Clarke said those words.

“The panel highlighted that if the words were said, no officer reacted – ignoring Mr Clarke would be ‘extremely unusual’ from officers who had assessed a serious mental health episode and were trying to calm Mr Clarke, keep him from harm and hand him into the expert care of paramedics.

“The situation was fast-paced and challenging for everyone who tried to help Mr Clarke that day and his death was a tragedy.”

The misconduct hearing followed the Independent Office for Police Conduct reopening its investigation into Mr Clarke’s death following the inquest.