Police stopped and searched the brothers on suspicion of stealing mobile phones.

Wood Green brothers accuse police of assault during stop and search

by Tim Lamden Sunday, August 19, 2012
3:00 PM

Two brothers convicted of assaulting a police officer following a stop and search are now hoping to prosecute the officer after having their convictions quashed.

Rico Campbell, 21, and his brother Renea, 23, were stopped and searched by a plain-clothed police officer on suspicion of stealing mobile phones outside their home in Pelham Road, Wood Green, on June 29 last year.

Reverse

The officer found no stolen goods but the brothers claim they were then searched again and assaulted before being arrested.

Both men were convicted of assaulting a police officer at Highgate Magistrates’ Court last November and fined £50, but the convictions were quashed on appeal at Wood Green Crown Court on August 2 after officers failed to turn up to several hearings.

Rico, who finished university last year and is looking for a job, said: “They put something bad on my name and then I started thinking, ‘Is it going to be hard for me to get a job?’

“For the stress that we have been put through and the fact that we’ve been assaulted I would like to reverse it and take them to court.”

Ken Hinds, chairman of Haringey Stop and Search Monitoring Group, said: “The officer did not do the stop and search in the right manner.

“These boys were brutalised and on top of it they were given a criminal record.”

A Haringey police spokeswoman said the force received a complaint from one of the brothers’ relatives after their arrest accusing the police of harassment and assault.

She added: “The complaint was considered and not upheld. If the males themselves have any further concerns they are welcome to make a complaint.”