Use of force during arrest of Sex Education Reece Richards star ‘reasonable', watchdog finds

ITV News

15-05-2025

The use of force by officers to arrest Sex Education star Reece Richards after he was mistaken for a suspect 'was reasonable in the circumstances', the police watchdog found.
Actor Reece Richards shared footage of the moment he says Met Police officers "pepper-sprayed" and "kicked" him, as he was returning home to his mother after performing in musical 'Hairspray' in September last year
The video showed multiple officers piling on top of him, while his mother "screamed" in footage filmed from a nearby address.
Following an investiagtion, The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) found 'no indication that any officers acted in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings or had committed a criminal offence'.
The watchdog also did not uphold a complaint by Richards that he was treated in a discriminatory manner because he was black.
The Netflix actor, who has been in 'You' and 'Sex Education', was walking to his home in Fulham after finishing a performance as Seaweed in the UK tour of Hairspray, before the incident.
He wrote on his Instagram post: "They pepper-sprayed me, kicked my legs out from under me, threw me to the ground, and handcuffed me ... multiple officers holding me down forcing my head into the ground. "
"I could hear my mum nearby, screaming and crying, begging them to let me go."
He continued: "The whole experience was embarrassing, deeply upsetting and exhausting."
IOPC director Amanda Rowe acknowledged the actor was an innocent bystander and that it 'would have been a frightening experience'.
She went on: 'Mr Richards' complaint detailed his understandable belief that he was detained and arrested because he was black, although the suspects were white.
'We found that officers were responding to a fast-moving incident and – given the only description of the suspects was that one was wearing dark clothing and their location – it was reasonable that the officer who saw Mr Richards and detained him thought he was a suspect.
'The evidence indicated that the officers' use of force was reasonable in the circumstances they encountered and perceived and Mr Richards was de-arrested as soon officers confirmed he was not involved.'
CCTV footage showed Richards walking along Fulham Palace Road, near to the collision, when one of the suspects ran past him, chased by an officer.
Richards dropped his backpack and ran, the watchdog said.
A lone officer then mistook Richards for one of the suspects, stopped the actor and withdrew his PAVA spray but did not discharge it, the IOPC said.
Two more officers arrived and told Richards to get to the ground.
There was a 'struggle' and one of the officers PAVA-sprayed Richards and he was handcuffed, the IOPC said.
The actor told them he was innocent and his mother later arrived at the scene.
Richards was de-arrested 14 minutes after he was stopped, the IOPC said.
Met Police Commander Owain Richards said: 'We are pleased the IOPC was able to determine the officers acted in good faith and appropriately.
'This was a fast-moving incident during which they were trying to detain three men who had fled from police during a pursuit. Their use of force was reasonable in the circumstances.
'Mr Richards was swiftly de-arrested as soon as officers confirmed he was not a suspect, but we absolutely acknowledge how distressing it must have been to be caught up in such an incident.
'We would be happy to meet him to discuss what happened should he wish to do so.'