London Daily
Focus on the big picture.

LONDON DAILY ARCHIVE

Fundraiser tops £120,000 for police officers sacked over black athlete stop

A fundraiser has collected over £120,000 to support former police officers, Jonathan Clapham and Sam Franks, who were dismissed due to their actions during a handcuffed search of black Team GB athlete Bianca Williams and her partner Ricardo Dos Santos.

28 October 2023 · 22:48 UTC

The officers were accused of racial profiling, and a disciplinary panel found their actions amounted to gross misconduct.

Thousands of supporters have contributed to the JustGiving crowdfunding page, which aims to assist the officers during challenging times. Critics have questioned the support for officers dismissed for misconduct, leading to the removal of comments on the page.

The case has sparked discussions about policing, racial profiling, and accountability in the Metropolitan Police. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Ward has apologized to Williams and Dos Santos, acknowledging the need to regain trust, particularly in black communities regarding stop and search practices. The Metropolitan Police Federation is considering an appeal against the officers' dismissals.