Six police officers are facing losing their jobs after stopping an e-bike rider.

Officers arrested the 16-year-old on suspicion of a racially aggravated public-order offence, threatening to kill and dangerous driving.

The officers, however, are now under investigation by the policing watchdog following the stop and search in Tottenham in April last year.

The teenager, who is black, was stopped when a Metropolitan Police officer forced him off his e-bike as he rode along Northumberland Park Avenue.

He was searched but nothing was found, so officers took the battery from his e-bike and said he could go.

The boy remained at the scene and police later returned to arrest him. However, he was turned away from police custody to go to hospital, where it was found that he had a fractured knee.

Six constables under investigation

Three police constables are under criminal investigation. One for potential offences of assault occasioning grievous bodily harm or actual bodily harm and the two others for intentionally encouraging or assisting an offence. All three are also being investigated for potential gross misconduct.

Another three constables are being investigated for potential misconduct for allegedly failing to challenge the other officers.

Amanda Rowe, director of the Independent Office for Police Conduct, said: “The use of stop and search is an important policing tool – however, it must be used proportionately.

“This is a serious case where a child has been injured as a result of force being used and we are investigating the officers’ actions in this case and their treatment of the child, who was not provided with immediate first aid.

“We have been in contact with the boy’s family and obtained further evidence to assist our investigation. We will continue to keep all parties updated as the investigation progresses.”

‘Woke witch hunt’

Police have previously been left “concerned” about using force while making arrests after a “woke witch hunt” resulted in a decorated officer being dismissed for gross misconduct.

Dorset Police Federation called for “urgent clarification” from senior officers last year about the implications of using force, including by those “who make genuine mistakes when doing so”.

Lorne Castle was dismissed for behaving aggressively and using unreasonable force during an incident in Bournemouth in January 2024.

Mr Castle was alleged to have told a youth, who was found to be in possession of a knife, to “stop screaming like a b—h”, and threatened to “smash him” before putting his hands around the boy’s neck.