Metropolitan Police Officer Under Investigation After Actor Reece Richards Alleges Injury During Arrest

A Metropolitan Police officer is facing a criminal investigation for potential assault, following claims by Sex Education star Reece Richards that he sustained injuries during an alleged wrongful arrest in west London. In an Instagram post, the actor stated that on 4 September, while returning home after performing in the West End musical Hairspray, he was sprayed with an incapacitating liquid, forced to the ground, and kicked by officers who had allegedly mistaken him for a suspect. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) confirmed it had informed one officer that “they were under criminal investigation” and were also being investigated for potential gross misconduct. A second officer is also being investigated for potential misconduct, the IOPC noted. Richards, known for his role on Netflix, recounted witnessing a car crash from which two men fled on foot, and subsequently indicating their direction to the police. However, he wrote that the four officers instead restrained him by sitting on him, which exacerbated pre-existing injuries to his back, ribs, and stomach. He stated, “In a flash, I was face-down on the pavement with multiple officers holding me down, forcing my head into the ground.” He added, “I couldn’t see anything, but I could hear my mum nearby, screaming and crying, begging them to let me go.” Richards concluded, “That feeling of helplessness will never leave me. The whole experience was embarrassing, deeply upsetting, and exhausting.” The Met, in its response, stated that its officers were pursuing a suspected stolen car with false plates prior to the incident involving Richards, who has leveled an accusation of “racial profiling” against the force. The Met had previously acknowledged the use of pepper spray during the arrest and confirmed that its Directorate of Professional Standards had been notified. A spokesperson for the IOPC, the police watchdog, confirmed that its investigation remains ongoing. They stated, “The investigation is looking into the use of force by Met Police officers during the arrest of a man, who was later de-arrested.” The spokesperson added, “In November, we advised an officer that they were under criminal investigation for the potential offence of common assault.” “The same officer is also being investigated for potential gross misconduct and a second officer is being investigated for potential misconduct,” the spokesperson continued. They clarified, “This does not mean that disciplinary or criminal proceedings will necessarily follow.” “At the end of our investigation, we will decide whether any officers should face disciplinary proceedings and whether any referral should be made to the Crown Prosecution Service,” the IOPC spokesperson concluded.