Two Metropolitan Police Officers Dismissed Over Racially-Charged Misconduct in Stop and Search of Black Athletes

Officers Jonathan Clapham and Sam Franks dismissed from London's Metropolitan Police after found guilty of lying about smelling cannabis during 2020 stop and search incident involving black athletes Bianca Williams and Ricardo dos Santos; other allegations regarding breaches of police standards over equality and diversity found unproven against three other officers.

Metropolitan Police officers Jonathan Clapham and Sam Franks were dismissed from London's police force after being found guilty of gross misconduct in the stop and search of black athletes Bianca Williams and Ricardo dos Santos.
The officers were found to have lied about smelling cannabis when they stopped and searched the couple's car in 2020, leading to allegations of racial profiling. No drugs or weapons were found in the search.
During the incident, the couple was handcuffed and separated from their three-month-old son. The case sparked high levels of public interest and led to a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
Though the Metropolitan Police initially claimed their officers did nothing wrong during the stop and search, they later apologized for the distress caused and conceded that the force still has a long way to go to earn the trust of black communities, particularly regarding stop and search practices.
The case added to the already growing allegations of institutional racism within the Metropolitan Police. In March, an independent review found the force to be institutionally racist, sexist and homophobic, and called for a complete overhaul.
This incident and the ensuing disciplinary findings highlight the ongoing issues faced by the Metropolitan Police in their treatment of black individuals, with official government figures showing that black individuals are four times more likely to be stopped while driving than someone who is white.