BTP officer convicted of assault – London

A British Transport Police (BTP) officer has been convicted of assault by beating today (8 October) following a two day trial at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. 

PC Adrian Young, 48, was charged in connection to an incident at Camden Road Underground station in September 2024, following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

The court heard that on 22 September 2024 officers responded to a request for assistance at Camden Road from railway staff after a 15-year-old girl pushed her way through the ticket barriers.

PC Young – who was part of the London Overground Tasking Team - approached the girl, and CCTV footage shows him restraining her by putting her in a headlock for 30 seconds, before he then pushed her back through ticket barrier and placed his hand round her throat while pushing her up against a ticket machine.

PC Young handcuffed and arrested the girl before she was then de-arrested at the scene.

A member of the public who witnessed the incident made a complaint and BTP voluntarily referred the incident to the IOPC. PC Young remains suspended from duty and will be sentenced at a later date.

During the investigation the IOPC also found that PC Young should face a gross misconduct hearing for allegedly breaching the police standards of professional behaviour. Now that criminal matters have concluded, we will be liaising with them to swiftly progress disciplinary proceedings. 

Assistant Chief Constable Sean O’Callaghan  said: “I’d like to be absolutely clear that the actions of PC Young during this incident were appalling, demonstrating a completely unnecessary and unacceptable use of force against a child which has seen him be convicted of assault today.  

“Police officers are rightly expected to maintain control of any situation and by not doing so, PC Young has undermined public confidence in BTP and the high standards we hold our officers to every day.

“We thank the IOPC for their investigation and will be looking to progress with internal disciplinary proceedings as soon as possible.”