The couple stopped in Maida Vale, west London, on the afternoon of July 4, 2020, while traveling with their three-month-old son in a car. Both were handcuffed, while Williams, a gold medalist at the Commonwealth Games, was wanted for weapons and Portuguese sprinter Ricardo dos Santos was wanted for weapons and drugs. Nothing was found during the investigation, a video of which went viral on social media at the time, and the Independent Police Behavior Office (IOPC) launched an investigation into misconduct in October 2020. An acting sergeant and four police officers will face allegations that they violated police standards of professional conduct for duties and responsibilities and for equality and diversity. The police will face a disciplinary committee that will decide if the allegations of violating professional standards are proven, according to the police. A sixth officer will attend a meeting with the force command for alleged violations found to be misconduct. It will also be examined whether racial discrimination played a role in stopping and searching. The IOPC investigation also found that the couple’s son had been placed in a database that stores information about children known to police. The guard investigated a complaint that a report about the couple’s son had been completed by one of the officers and had been forwarded to the local authority. He said he had instructed police to consider deleting the petition and to make every reasonable effort to arrange for the local authority to do so. Bianca Williams accused the Metropolitan Police of having a racial profile, after the police stopped and searched her and her partner Ricardo dos Santos, where the couple was pulled out of their car. (PA) In a statement issued through the couple’s lawyers, Ms Williams said: “I welcome this decision and I hope this opens the door for the Met to start being more honest and thoughtful about the culture of racism, which is undoubtedly still is a reality within the organization. “A clear focus on the Met’s racism problem by the IOPC has been long overdue.” Mr Dos Santos added: “This has been a long journey and it has not been easy. “We have been involved in this process for almost two years, and who knows how much longer we will have to wait for the completion of the process of misconduct? “This sheds light on how difficult it is to ensure that the police are held accountable for their failures.” Deputy Assistant Commissioner Bas Javid, from the Met’s Professional Directorate, apologized for the inconvenience caused to the couple. He said: “I recognize the direction of the Independent Police Behavior Office in this case. “We have fully cooperated with the IOPC investigation and, in accordance with their guidelines, are now arranging for an independent hearing on conduct misconduct. “I’m sorry for the distress that this incident has clearly caused to Mrs Williams and Mr Dos Santos.” London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the incident showed the need to replace Cressida Dick as Metropolitan Police commissioner to work out a “more effective plan for tackling serious cultural issues” within the force. “This incident was understandably deeply painful for Bianca Williams and Ricardo Dos Santos and I, like many Londoners, was disturbed by the plans of what happened,” he said. “I welcome the IOPC’s independent investigation and findings. “It is important that there is no further delay and these officers are now facing serious misconduct proceedings as soon as possible. “This case is another example of why it’s vital that the next commissioner has a more effective plan to address serious cultural issues within the Met Police and to regain the trust of Londoners.”
