Officer banned from policing after BBC investigation

A former officer who was filmed saying he loved using force against detainees has been banned from policing, a misconduct hearing ruled.

PC Peter Greaves, who transferred from the Met Police to Gloucestershire Police in March, was filmed by BBC Panorama in London saying he would break the fingers of detainees who refused to give fingerprints.

Greaves would have been dismissed without notice had he not already resigned, the panel ruled.

A misconduct hearing on Friday found no evidence of him inflicting physical harm, but a panel ruled his comments seriously harmed public confidence and breached the standard of professional behaviour relating to discreditable conduct.

He has been banned from policing and being employed by any other related bodies.

Greaves resigned a month after the BBC Panorama broadcast aired in October.

An accelerated misconduct hearing was held in front of Gloucestershire Police temporary Chief Constable Maggie Blyth following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

"While there is no evidence former PC Greaves actually inflicted physical harm on members of the public, his comments were shocking and seriously harmed public confidence in policing," Blyth said.

To date, the Met has dismissed seven officers who featured in the Panorama episode.

October's programme showed officers calling for immigrants to be shot, revelling in the use of force, and being dismissive of rape claims.

The IOPC's investigation into all the allegations at the London Charing Cross branch continues.

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