Six Met officers investigated after black child suffers broken knee in Tottenham search

Six Metropolitan Police officers are being investigated after a black child suffered a broken knee during a stop and search in north London, the police watchdog has said. The boy, who was aged 16 at the time, was forced off his electric bike by an officer over concerns about his behaviour as he rode along Northumberland Park in Tottenham in April 2025, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said. The IOPC launched an investigation in November, looking at the level of force used, whether race or the child's age was a factor in their treatment of him, and the aftercare provided to him. The Met, which said the allegations were "concerning", made a mandatory referral to the IOPC of a complaint made on behalf of the boy about his treatment by officers. Nothing was found in the search before officers removed the battery from his electric bike and told him he could leave. But they returned a short time later and arrested him on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence, threats to kill and dangerous driving. The officers attempted to take him into custody but this was refused and they were told to take him to hospital, where he was diagnosed with a fractured knee,