British Transport Police officer convicted after putting teenage girl in a headlock
A British Transport Police (BTP) officer has been found guilty of assaulting a 15-year-old girl after he put her around her neck while detaining her at a train station.
Pc Adrian Young, attached to the London Overground Task Team, was sentenced following a hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
The sentence of the 48-year-old defendant will be heard on November 13.
A spokesperson for the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said: “The court heard that on September 22, 2024, BTP officers responded to a request for assistance from rail staff after a child broke through ticket barriers at Camden Road overground station.
“After PC Young approached the boy, CCTV footage showed the officer restraining him by sitting on his neck.
“The boy was subdued for approximately 30 seconds before Pc Young pushed him backwards through the ticket barrier and placed his hand around his throat, pushing him towards a ticket machine.
“Pc Young handcuffed and arrested the boy and he was later taken into custody at the scene.”
IOPC director Emily Barry said: “All police officers are trained to use force that is necessary, proportionate and reasonable in the circumstances.
“In this incident there was no legal reason for Pc Young to use force that could have caused serious injury, especially when dealing with a much younger child.
“Witnesses to the incident included citizens at the scene who raised concerns about the police officer’s actions; one of the bystanders complained to BTP, which ultimately led to us conducting an independent investigation.
“This shows that the public can trust the police complaints system and that the IOPC will hold officers accountable for their actions and Pc Young has now been convicted of a criminal offence.”
The IOPC spokesman added that Young will also face a gross misconduct hearing at the BTP for allegedly breaching police standards of professional conduct.
