Met Police officer charged with racially aggravated GBH following taxi driver suffering broken jaw

A serving Metropolitan Police officer and a member of the public have been charged with racially aggravated grievous bodily harm (GBH).

The charges relate to an alleged assault on a taxi driver who received medical treatment for a broken jaw and reported the incident to Essex Police. 

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) launched an independent investigation following a mandatory referral from the Met Police on 2 October 2018.

The referral came following an allegation of assault causing grievous bodily harm in Essex on Monday 28 May 2018 against PC Gareth Head and a member of the public Paul Rode-Flame.

The IOPC’s investigation concluded on 10 July 2019 and provided a report to the Crown Prosecution Service in October 2019. The CPS decided in February 2020 to charge PC Head and Mr Roden-Flame with racially aggravated GBH and an alternate charge of GBH.

Both men will now appear at Basildon Magistrates' Court on 10 September.