by A misconduct panel is set to deliver its verdict on whether five Metropolitan Police officers are guilty of gross misconduct over the stop and search of two black athletes.
Olympic sprinter Ricardo dos Santos, 28, and his partner and Team GB athlete Bianca Williams, 29, reported to police saying they were racially profiled during a meeting on 4 July 2020 with the team of officers.
Police followed them as they drove home in west London from training with their then three-month-old baby in the back seat of their Mercedes.
The pair were handcuffed and searched on suspicion of having drugs and weapons after being pulled from their property, but nothing was found.
Acting Police Sergeant Rachel Simpson, Pc Allan Casey, Pc Jonathan Clapham, PC Michael Bond and Pc Sam Franks deny all charges against them, including allegations they breached the police's equality and diversity standards during the stop and search.
They could be sacked if the commission decides gross misconduct is proven at the hearing in south-east London on Wednesday.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) sued the five officers and said the detention of Mr Dos Santos and Ms Williams was “because they were black” and was “excessive, unreasonable and unjustified”.
Karon Monaghan KC, for the IOPC, told the panel at the start of the hearing that the warden's case will say there is “institutional discrimination” in the Met Police.
The IOPC's case was based on wider documents and reports showing that black people are “much more likely” to be stopped and searched in London in general, and that black people are “typically” treated with “more suspicion and hostility” by police and “stereotypes”. as a criminal”.
Mr. Dos Santos accused the officers of arresting him for “DWB, driving while black.”
He told the panel while testifying that he “feared” for the safety of his partner and son.
When asked why he should fear the police, the sprinter spoke of his “traumatic experiences” as a young black man who had been stopped by the police on “many occasions” in the past.
He said he believes he is stereotyped as a black man who drives a “nice car” as someone who “must be involved in crime,” the misconduct hearing was told.
The commission heard that Mr Dos Santos had been stopped nine times within four weeks of buying a car in 2018.
When shown body-worn video of him taunting and swearing at police officers, he accepted his behaviour, saying: “Everyone deals with trauma differently.”
Ms Williams wept as she watched footage of Mr Dos Santos being pulled from the driver's seat on the side of the road and handcuffed.
She dismissed suggestions her partner could have acted differently to avoid police attention, insisting he “can't change the color of his skin”.
All five officers testified during the misconduct hearing in which they denied allegations of racism.
The panel heard that they followed Mr Dos Santos in their police vehicle because of the “disgusting” and “suspicious” nature of his driving and that they were doing their duty when they carried out the stop and search.
Ms Monaghan told the panel that these were “exaggerated” descriptions that did not “reflect the reality” of Mr Dos Santos not speeding around corners, indicating before all his corners, not running red lights and not to slide on the road.
Pcs Casey, Franks, Clapham and Bond said they smelled cannabis during the stop and search and denied suggestions this was to justify their actions.
Pc Franks admitted he was “wrong” when he said, as captured in the video, he could smell cannabis coming from the car.
Acting Sergeant Simpson and Constables Clapham, Bond and Franks also face allegations that their actions amounted to a breach of professional conduct standards in relation to the use of force.
They are said to have failed in relation to the levels of authority, respect and courtesy, as well as in their duties and responsibilities.
Pc Casey is also accused of breaching professional standards in the way he carried out his duties and responsibilities or gave orders and directions.
It is also alleged that the honesty and integrity of Pcs Casey, Clapham, Bond and Franks breached standards of professional conduct.
