The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is appealing for witnesses following the stop and search of a black boy, 16, in Greenwich, south-east London.
The incident took place at 10.50pm on September 4 2020 when officers from the Metropolitan Police Service were responding to reports of a serious incident on Armitage Road.
Officers attended the scene and they stopped and searched five teenage boys.
The complainant claimed the officers did not have reasonable grounds to stop and search him, he was racially stereotyped and they abused their authority by using unnecessary force.
Tasers were also deployed, but not activated, the IOPC said.
Following the incident, it was investigated by the Met and concluded in December 2020.
The IOPC was asked by the complainant to review that investigation and they launched an independent investigation into the incident in June. An IPOC spokesman said it had far collected officers’ body-worn video, mobile phone footage which was shared on social media, incident logs, call recordings and radio transmissions.
IOPC Regional Director Sal Naseem said: "It’s possible that a number of bystanders may have witnessed this incident.
"It’s vitally important we establish the full circumstances leading to this stop and search so I would appeal to anyone who saw what happened to contact our investigators as soon as possible.
"We have carried out door-to-door enquiries and put up witness appeal boards in the local area.
"We would particularly like to hear from anyone who either witnessed the incident or may have footage of it."
Anyone with information is asked to contact the IOPC by emailing op.taponga@policeconduct.gov.uk
