Police officer cleared of misconduct over taser incident which left man paralysed

Jordan Walker-Brown was tasered by PC Imran Mahmood in Finsbury Park five years ago, which led him to falling from a wall and breaking his back

A gross misconduct panel has found allegations against a Metropolitan Police officer involved in an incident in Haringey in 2020 “not proven”.

PC Imran Mahmood faced allegations relating to use of force and orders and instructions.  

On 4th May 2020, Jordan Walker-Brown was paralysed from the waist down when he fell from a height in Burgoyne Road in Finsbury Park, after a taser was deployed by PC Mahmood. The officer had been attempting to detain Jordan for the purposes of a search.

Two years ago, PC Mahmood was acquitted of “unlawfully and maliciously” inflicting grievous bodily harm, following a jury trial at Southwark Crown Court.

He has also now been cleared by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

Commander Hayley Sewart, responsible for local policing in North London, said: “It is a matter of huge regret that Mr Walker-Brown suffered such serious and significant injuries as a result of this incident. His life has been changed forever and we do not underestimate the impact on both him and his family.”

“Officers are often required to make split-second decisions in the course of their duties. The panel accepted that PC Mahmood held the belief Mr Walker-Brown posed an immediate threat to his safety and that of his colleagues, and acted on that belief. Having considered the evidence in detail, the panel concluded that PC Mahmood was justified in his actions given the situation he faced.

“We know our use of taser is seen by some as a controversial tactic, and incidents like this one raise very legitimate concerns. We have been carrying out significant work with our communities to ensure they are more involved in monitoring how we use it, which includes the introduction of a new scrutiny panel. Taser remains a vital tool, but we will continue to carry out reviews and regularly train our officers so they are using the tactic appropriately.” 

Following the incident taking place in May 2020, the Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) made a mandatory referral to the IOPC, which took the decision to independently investigate the matter. They later referred the case to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which charged PC Mahmood in April 2022 with assault occasioning grievous bodily harm. Once criminal proceedings concluded and PC Mahmood was acquited, the IOPC directed that PC Mahmood should face a gross misconduct hearing.   

After an eight-day hearing, the panel determined the force used by PC Mahmood was proportionate. They accepted the officer thought he was facing an imminent threat from Mr Walker-Brown, who he believed was in possession of an offensive weapon. They also accepted that the officer’s belief was legitimately held. The panel is made up of a senior officer and two independent panel members, and supported by a legally qualified advisor.

PC Mahmood has been a qualified taser officer since July 2017, and Met Police records show he was up to date with his taser training.   

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