Hertfordshire Constabulary officer found not guilty of assault
roger.kasper
A Hertfordshire Constabulary officer has been found not guilty of assaulting a man during an arrest in Watford, following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
PC Stephen Dalton was today (5 November) acquitted by a jury following a trial at St Albans Crown Court which started on Monday.
Our investigation began in October 2019 after we received a death or serious injury referral from the force on 5 October; and on 7 October the man made a complaint to the force who then referred it to the IOPC.
After a thorough examination of the evidence, including CCTV, officer's body worn video and police witness statements, we passed a file to the Crown Prosecution Service, which authorised a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm under Section 47 of the Offences Against the Person Act.
Our investigation also concluded that PC Dalton has a case to answer for gross misconduct for a breach of the standards of professional behaviour in relation to use of force.
Hertfordshire Constabulary agreed and it will now be for the force to take forward disciplinary proceedings.
Use of force and armed policing Hertfordshire Constabulary
Hertfordshire Constabulary - Pc Stephen Dalton - use of force