Met Police sorry for teen boy's Hackney water pistol arrest

In a lengthy statement, Det Ch Supt James Conway, in charge of policing for Hackney and Tower Hamlets, confirmed that the force had investigated itself and decided it had not committed any misconduct.

But he did not deny allegations that the incident in Stoke Newington was evidence of “systemic” or “institutional" racism in the Met Police.

“This incident was understandably extremely distressing for the boy involved as well as the rest of his family,” said Det Ch Supt Conway.

“We know it may cause public concern and we want to help the public understand why we responded in the way we did.

“This does not in any way detract from our recognition of the trauma caused to the boy, for which I apologised soon afterwards to his family.

“At around 15.45 on Wednesday, 19 July, an unarmed officer in Hackney saw a male on a bicycle pointing what was believed to be a handgun at a young girl.

“Officers from the Met’s specialist firearms command were called to the scene and found a boy matching the officer’s description riding on an electric pedal cycle nearby.”

Community leaders gathered at a press conference on Thursday, October 19, at Hackney's IDPAD Centre, to raise concerns about the Met Police sending armed police to arrest a child for playing with a bright blue water pistol (Image: Charles Thomson)

He confirmed officers used a van to knock the boy off of his bike – or scooter, as it was called at a press conference held by community organisers to condemn the Met’s actions earlier today (October 19).

“Firearms officers left the care and he was handcuffed and detained,” Det Ch Supt Conway continued.

“It quickly became clear that he was not in possession of a firearm. He was de-arrested at the scene. In subsequent enquiries, his family confirmed he had earlier been playing with a toy water gun.”

Det Ch Supt Conway said police were “dealing with fast moving situations, based on the limited information provided to them at the time”.

Policy is to “treat all firearms are real and loaded until proven otherwise," he added.

Dr Wanda Wyporska, CEO of the Black Equity Organisation, questioned the Met Police's justification for sending armed officers to arrest a 13-year-old boy who was using water pistols with his much younger sister (Image: Charles Thomson)

But, said Dr Wanda Wyporska, chief executive of the Black Equity Organisation, this particular incident was “shocking” and “unfathomable".

“How can a toy water gun that is blue and white be considered a credible firearms situation?” she asked.

She told a press conference at the IDPAD Centre, in Hackney’s Lower Clapton Road, that she felt the incident was part of a pattern of racist policing – a sentiment echoed by other speakers at the event.

“This has been going on in our communities for decades,” she said. “This is symptomatic of systemic and institutional racism.

“For us, it’s a case of there but for the grace of God go I, or my son. This is not just a one-off. This is a recurring pattern in our communities.”

Det Ch Supt Conway said that a complaint to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) had been referred to the Met so it could investigate itself.

It cleared itself of any wrongdoing.

He said he had met with the boy’s family since the incident.

“I listened to their concerns and I understand how upsetting this has been for them,” he said.

“We have also agreed to a review of the safeguarding support offered, led by our independently chaired Safeguarding Children Partnership, in order to learn any lessons from this incident.

“I am sorry for the trauma caused to the child and I am happy to meet with the family again if they feel that would help.”