Police watchdog finds officers did not take it seriously enough when father of disabled toddler suffered a seizure during arrest that sparked accusations of brutality
- Youness Bentahar became unwell as he was being arrested in Tower Hamlets
- His arrest, which was filmed, led to allegations of excessive force by police
- The Independent Office for Police Conduct said officers have no case to answer
- However, the IOPC said officers should have considered Mr Bentahar’s seizure
Police who restrained a man over a parking violation did not take his apparent seizure seriously, a watchdog has found.
Footage of Youness Bentahar being arrested in Abbott Road, Tower Hamlets, east London in July last year provoked accusations of brutality when he was pinned to the ground and became unwell.
The Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) found no case to answer for the officers involved, but expressed concern that his seizure had not been considered genuine by some officers.
The Independent Office of Police Conduct has investigated the arrest of Youness Bentahar in Tower Hamlets, east London in July 2019. The IOPC said officers did not have a case to answer but concerns were raised over their failure to consider whether Mr Bentahar’s seizure was genuine
IOPC regional director for London, Sal Naseem, said: ‘We were concerned that Mr Bentahar’s apparent seizure was not taken seriously by some officers and it should have been.
‘That’s why we are looking at how this can inform national training, as a key part of our role is to help prevent these issues from happening again.
‘This can only be in the interests of both the police and the public.’
The Metropolitan Police said on Tuesday that the officers’ view about the seizure had not affected the way Mr Bentahar was treated, he was given first aid and an ambulance was called.
The confrontation began when he was asked to move his car from a single yellow line where he had parked, reportedly displaying a Blue Badge because one of his children is dependent on oxygen.
Mr Bentahar refused to move the car or show his driving licence, and footage showed him struggling to avoid being handcuffed, with three officers eventually pinning him down.
The footage taken by witnesses shows Mr Bentahar appear to suffer three seizures as police struggled with him
Mr Bentahar was not charged with any offence following his arrest . The confrontation began when he was asked to move his car from a single yellow line where he had parked, reportedly displaying a Blue Badge because one of his children is dependent on oxygen
As the officers tried to restrain him, with his wife could be heard screaming ‘he’s dying’ and seen trying to intervene.
Later he appeared to be having a seizure as the three officers continued to restrain him.
According to witnesses, his two young children were in the family’s car nearby.
The IOPC said that one male police constable had taken part in a ‘reflective practice’ about how the incident could have been better handled.
Mr Bentahar was not charged with any offence following his arrest.
Commander Paul Betts from the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards, said: ‘All officers are trained in first aid and know they have a duty of care to assist anyone taken unwell; they do this day in and day out in London.
‘We teach that all officers involved in an incident have a responsibility to continually assess a detainee’s condition, particularly if they have been restrained.’