Police officer sacked after assaulting neighbour

A Metropolitan Police officer who was convicted of assault after he got into a row with his neighbour over parking has been sacked.

PC Daniel Traynor, 38, pushed Joshua Smith after he returned to his home in east London to find a vehicle "blocking access to his property" on 29 November 2024, a misconduct hearing was told on Monday.

Traynor, who was later convicted of a single charge of assault by beating, has now been dismissed for gross misconduct after his conduct was found to have been "wholly unbecoming of a police officer".

The hearding was told the officer denied the allegation, claiming to have acted in "reasonable self-defence" and had lodged an appeal against his conviction.

The hearing in south London was told that after Traynor tried to find the owner the vehicle outside his home, he and Smith had a conversation that turned into an argument.

Later, Traynor and his partner knocked on Smith's door and another row broke out, the panel heard.

The police officer then pushed Smith with both hands, causing him to fall backwards.

Smith then punched the officer and the pair "grappled and fell to the floor", leading to the police being called to the address.

Traynor was convicted of assault at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 12 November and sentenced to 80 hours of unpaid work, 15 rehabilitation activity days and ordered to pay costs.

Jennie Oborne, representing the Met Police at the misconduct hearing, said the incident caused harm both to Smith by virtue of the assault and to "public confidence in policing".

"The ability for a police officer to keep their temper even when provoked is, in my submission, of paramount importance in maintaining public confidence in policing," she added.

Chair of the misconduct hearing Commander Andy Brittain said Traynor's actions were "deliberate and targeted", adding: "He could have walked away at any stage or sought help at dealing with the dispute."

"His conduct was wholly unbecoming of a police officer and would undermine public trust and confidence in the police," Brittain added.

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