A Metropolitan Police officer, PC Sevda Gonen, has been convicted of assault after slapping a 16-year-old boy during an incident in November 2023. Gonen, 33, was found guilty of two counts of assault by beating for slapping the teenager multiple times in the face and conducting an unlawful search. On Friday, she was sentenced to a 12-month community order, which includes 150 hours of unpaid work.
Additionally, Gonen was ordered to pay Ksh406,920 in costs, Ksh33,910 in compensation, and a Ksh15,462 victim surcharge. Her colleague, PC Stuart Price, 35, was also found guilty of carrying out an unlawful search of the boy, which was also considered assault. Price received a fine of Ksh67,820, costs of Ksh271,280, a victim surcharge of Ksh27,128, and compensation of Ksh13,564.
The Metropolitan Police stated that Gonen had been suspended, while Price remains on restricted duties. The police force added that it would work with the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) regarding possible misconduct procedures.
The officers were initially called after reports that the boy had been aggressive at his home and violent toward a mental health worker who was trying to assess him. During the trial, a camera inside the police vehicle recorded the officers referring to the boy in derogatory terms. Gonen referred to him as “a f***** little sht”, while Price called him “a f***** d**khead”*. Gonen replied to Price, “I’ve had enough of him.”
Upon arrival at the boy’s home, Price offered to drive the teenager to the hospital after his mother expressed concern about his well-being. Footage inside the police van showed the boy lighting a cigarette, which caused Gonen to express concern due to safety risks. She claimed that the boy smoking made her “panic”, adding that smoking in the vehicle was “criminal damage”. Gonen also cited her asthma as a reason for her distress over the smoking.
After expressing concerns that the boy might have something in his pockets, the officers conducted a search, which was deemed unlawful as he had not been arrested. Gonen stated that she was worried about the boy spitting, so she put a coat collar near his mouth. As the situation progressed, the boy appeared unresponsive, prompting Price to say, “You all right, mate? We’re just trying to help you, mate.” Price later commented, “Yeah, he’s hot to touch.”
In the footage shown during the trial, Gonen was seen slapping the boy’s face multiple times while holding his hair. The slaps caused his eyes to flicker. Gonen defended her actions by claiming that when there was concern for the boy’s well-being, she felt it was necessary to “gently slap him on his cheeks” for his safety, though she maintained she “was never trying to hurt him”.
The incident was condemned by Area Commander Hayley Sewart, who stated that Gonen’s actions were “deeply troubling” and “well below the standards and behavior we expect from our officers”. She expressed regret over the impact the incident had on the boy and his family, offering an apology for the distress caused. Sewart acknowledged that the situation, which began with an attempt to get medical help for a teenager in crisis, escalated inappropriately.
She also pointed out that the charges and subsequent conviction raised important questions, and it was crucial for the police to reflect on the broader implications for officers and policing as a whole.
