An officer will face a misconduct hearing after being convicted of common assault following an incident in Southwark last year.
PC Luke Wenham, attached to the Central South Basic Command Unit, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 21 June where he was found guilty following a one-day trial of two counts of common assault.
He is due to be sentenced on Wednesday, 26 July.
PC Wenham’s conviction follows an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
On Wednesday, 17 August, PC Wenham was one of a team of officers who attended an address in Albert Barnes House SE1 to carry out an arrest inquiry for a man wanted on suspicion of robbery.
Entry was forced to the man’s flat, but he climbed out of a window and began to scale down a drainpipe which ran the length of the block of flats. As he did so, PC Wenham leant out of an open window and discharged PAVA spray at the man – who continued to climb down the pipe.
Together with other officers, PC Wenham attempted to locate the man, finding him on the balcony of another flat. When officers found him, the man continued his attempts to escape, climbing down the outside of the building as before. Again, PC Wenham deployed PAVA on him.
When the man was brought to safety he was arrested and later convicted of 11 counts of robbery, two counts of robbery and two counts of racially aggravated public order.
Met policy dictates that any time an officer uses PAVA spray the circumstances will be subject to review. In this case, following a review of PC Wenham’s actions the matter was referred to the IOPC who carried out an independent investigation.
On 9 February, PC Wenham was charged with two counts of common assault.
He has been on restricted duties since the investigation started. Now that criminal matters have concluded misconduct proceedings will commence.
Detective Chief Superintendent Seb Adjei-Addoh, local policing commander in Southwark and Lambeth, said: “Officers know that their actions will be held to account and where any use of force is deployed, must always consider whether it was necessary and proportionate to the circumstances. It is clear in this case that not only was PC Wenham’s response completely disproportionate to the situation he faced but also, by doing what he did, he put a member of public at risk of harm. PC Wenham has let down not only himself but many hardworking police colleagues who strive to improve trust and confidence with our communities. I am pleased that this matter was put before a jury to make a decision following a careful consideration of all the facts.”
