Officers Reinstated After Cannabis Stop Appeal

Two former Metropolitan Police officers, Jonathan Clapham and Sam Franks, have been reinstated with back pay after an appeal overturned their dismissal for allegedly lying about smelling cannabis during a stop and search of Black athletes Bianca Williams and Ricardo Dos Santos. The Police Appeals Tribunal deemed the original ruling 'irrational' and 'inconsistent', asserting that the officers did not lie about the cannabis claim. The incident, which involved the couple being handcuffed and searched with their infant son present, has raised significant concerns about racial profiling within the Metropolitan Police. Williams recorded the stop, which drew public outrage and accusations of institutional racism in policing. In contrast, Dos Santos expressed disappointment at the tribunal's decision, citing ongoing issues of racial bias in law enforcement. The reinstatement has sparked criticism of the Independent Office for Police Conduct, with calls for accountability regarding the initial findings.