AN OFFICER from Thames Valley Police is due to face a misconduct hearing for allegedly using ‘disproportionate force’ towards a 15-year-old in Wokingham last year.
PC 7615 Peter Crimmins is alleged to have attended Howard Palmer Gardens at around 9.30pm on June 17 last year, along with Special Constable Roy Egarr, following reports that a group of youths had been behaving anti-socially. Two PCSOs were already on the scene.
PC Crimmins is alleged to have approached the group of youths and observed one of them, referred to as Witness A, move away from the group and take a phone call on his mobile phone. PC Crimmins is then alleged to have put his arm out to direct him back to the group, and pushed Witness A with his arm across Witness A’s chest.
When hearing Witness A say to the person on the other end of the phone words to the effect: “This guy’s being a k**b”, PC Crimmins allegedly grabbed Witness A by the neck, saying words to the effect: “A k**b yeah?”
PC Crimmins then allegedly pushed Witness A backwards, still with his hand around the boy’s neck, until he smacked PC Crimmin’s hand and he let go.
Thames Valley Police also allege that PC Crimmins failed to complete a Use of Force form or make any other record of the use of force on Witness A until he was advised to do so by PS O’Brien at a meeting at 1am on June 19.
The force concludes that these actions amount, individually and/or collectively, to gross misconduct and breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour of:
- Use of Force;
- Orders and Instructions.
PC Crimmins will face the misconduct hearing, chaired by Mr William Hansen, a legally qualified chair, at the Thames Valley Police Headquarters in Kidlington, Oxford, between April 19 and April 21, commencing at 10am.