Met Officers Reinstated Amid Cannabis Stop and Search Controversy

Two former Met Police officers in London regain their positions and back pay after winning an appeal. The officers were initially accused of lying about smelling cannabis while stopping Black athletes Bianca Williams and Ricardo Dos Santos, but the ruling was deemed 'irrational'.

In a significant turn of events, two former Metropolitan Police officers, Jonathan Clapham and Sam Franks, have been reinstated and awarded back pay. This follows an appeal overturning a previous ruling that they had lied about detecting the scent of cannabis during a stop and search involving two Black athletes.

The Police Appeals Tribunal criticized the initial disciplinary panel's decision, labeling it as 'irrational' and 'inconsistent.' The officers were originally judged to have falsified claims during a July 2020 incident, where British sprinter Bianca Williams and her partner, Ricardo Dos Santos, faced a stop and search while driving home with their infant son.

The incident had fueled allegations of racial profiling within the Met Police. Following the appeal, senior voices emphasized the integrity and dedication of the officers, aiming to restore their tarnished reputations. The case highlights ongoing controversies surrounding racial biases in policing.

(With inputs from agencies.)