MISCONDUCT PANEL DISMISSES MET OFFICER OVER FORCE AGAINST HOMELESS MAN

A misconduct panel has dismissed Metropolitan Police officer PC Omer Farok after finding gross misconduct over his treatment of a homeless man in central London in June 2024. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said Farok pushed the handcuffed man into a brick wall and threw him face-first onto the pavement. The man suffered a cut near his right eyebrow that required hospital treatment, according to the IOPC’s account. The panel found that Farok breached professional standards covering use of force and authority, respect and courtesy.

The IOPC said officers had attended following a report that a man had entered an unattended vehicle. Farok detained the man, handcuffed his hands behind his back and called him an “idiot”, according to the account. The restraints prevented the man from breaking his fall when Farok threw him down. Footage showed Farok manipulating the handcuffs in a way that caused pain and shouting “stop resisting” while the injured man lay on the ground without appearing to resist.

The IOPC said Farok ignored the man’s requests to explain why he accused him of resisting. A criminal court cleared Farok of assault by beating in November 2025. The IOPC explained that criminal proceedings determine whether someone committed an offence, while disciplinary proceedings assess breaches of professional standards and determine sanctions. Farok will join the College of Policing barred list, which will prevent him from working in policing in future.