The cop also told the victim he “smelled like a junkie and shouldn’t be in this country”
A Metropolitan Police custody sergeant has been sacked after he told a detainee of Asian ethnicity he “smelled like a junkie and shouldn’t be in this country” and pushed him into a cupboard.
The incident took place at the Fresh Wharf Custody Suite in Quay Road, Barking, on 25th January last year, after police responded to a report of two men fighting. The attending officers discovered one of them was subject to a deportation order and arrested him.
But the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigated Sergeant Navin Thammanna’s use of force, as well as comments he made, after three of his colleagues raised their concerns with a supervisor.
Sgt Thammanna faced a gross misconduct hearing this week which heard he used unnecessary force on the man, as well as derogatory and discriminatory language.
This was in breach of the police standards of professional behaviour “relating to authority, respect and courtesy, equality and diversity, discreditable conduct and use of force”.
On Tuesday (17th) the disciplinary panel, appointed by the force and chaired by Commander Katie Lilburn, found all allegations against the officer were proven and that he should be dismissed without notice. He will also be placed on the policing barred list.
IOPC director Amanda Rowe said: “Police officers, and especially detention officers, carry a great deal of responsibility for often some of the most vulnerable members of society.
“PS Thammanna allowed himself to become agitated by the man who was undeniably being unco-operative. The officer was abusive, rude and used discriminatory language towards him.
“His use of discriminatory language was completely unacceptable, and he showed a complete lack of respect toward the man. It’s behaviour like this which damages the public’s trust and confidence in police officers.
“Police officers are permitted to use force in certain situations, however any force used must be reasonable and proportionate. The evidence clearly showed that PS Thammanna’s use of force was excessive and his actions were unacceptable.
“It was commendable that his colleagues raised this matter with their supervisor and gave evidence to support the case against PS Thammanna. This is a good example of the disciplinary process being effective in rooting out poor officer behaviour.”
The IOPC investigation, which began in February 2025, found the man had been brought into Fresh Wharf, where Sgt Thammanna verbally abused the man and made discriminatory comments.
The man, who was being rude and abusive to officers, was taken to the strip search room. Once in the room, his colleagues told the IOPC investigators that Sgt Thammanna threatened the man with force if he did not co-operate with officers and pushed him against the cupboard unit in the search room.
The next day, Sgt Thammanna bragged to a colleague about his use of force.
But three of his colleagues raised his behaviour with their supervisor, saying it was unprofessional and unacceptable.
The IOPC concluded last June that the officer should face a gross misconduct hearing organised by the force.
After hearing the evidence, the panel concluded that Sgt Tammanna had fallen below the standard expected of a serving police officer. As well as being dismissed he will also be added to the barred list held by the College of Policing to prevent him re-joining the police or being employed by other related bodies.
Chief Superintendent Louise Sargent from the Met Police said: “Sgt Tammanna’s behaviour was rightly called out straight away by other officers on duty, who recognised that his behaviours and actions crossed a threshold that was unacceptable, unprofessional and below the standard expected.
“His behaviour undermines the hard work, care, and respect that the vast majority of staff and officers demonstrate on a daily basis.
“It is right that he has been dismissed. There is no place for this type of behaviour in the Metropolitan Police as we continue to work diligently to raise standards across the force.”
