By IANS
London : Police in Britain have paid a 4,000-pound out-of-court compensation to an Indian origin teenager after a constable put him in a rubbish bin in 2005.
The plain-clothed constable hoisted Anop Singh, 15, over his shoulder and put him feet-first in the rubbish bin after an exchange of words between the boy and two officers, which was captured on a mobile phone by one of Singh’s friends.
The incident occurred in a park in Stoke Newington, North London, in October 2005. The officers involved were investigating reports of youths throwing conkers (kind of seeds) at members of the public.
One officer told Singh to move on or he would put him in a bin, to which he replied: “You’re going to put me in the bin? Go on then.”
The officer carried out his threat, Daily Mail reported.
Later, Singh, of Stamford Hill, north London, threatened to sue the Metropolitan Police and claimed other youths bullied him branding him “bin boy”.
Scotland Yard have now paid out about 4,000 pounds as out-of-court settlement.
The constable who put Singh in the bin escaped criminal charges and kept his job. But the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) gave both the officers a written warning after an investigation.
The commission found that Singh was in the bin for no more than a second, and the officers claimed it was “all in good humour”.
Deborah Glass, IPCC Commissioner for London, said their actions were “clearly foolish” but “not malicious”.
Singh said the money would never make up for the “humiliation and distress” he suffered.
“It’s not about the money,” he said.
However, the out-of-court settlement has not gone well with a few police officers.
Glen Smyth, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said it was “astonishing” that the boy had received the money.
“Should the officer have put him in the bin? Probably not but I suppose it’s the modern equivalent of a giving him a clip round the ear,” he said.
“He was being a naughty lad and he was being taught a lesson. I can see why the Met decided to make the pay-out because it would have cost much more to go to court. But a written apology should have been enough. This sends out all the wrong signs, a child who behaves badly is rewarded,” he added.
Meanwhile, Singh’s family is still not satisfied with the settlement and asking for the sacking of the police officer.
“We’re not satisfied and I will always be angry about the way my son was tossed around like a piece of rubbish,” Singh’s father, Gurdev Singh, said.
“The officer should have been sacked,” he added.