Footage showing a Met Police officer beating a man after mistaking him for a suspect has been released by the police watchdog.

The incident occurred on November 13 in 2022 at around 6.39pm when the police arrived at Atlanta Boulevard in Romford to reports of criminal damage.

They were called by a man believed to be audiologist Rasike Attanayake, who was instead taken for a criminal by PC Jonathan Marsh of the Met’s East Area Command Unit.

The footage, shared by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), is said to reveal PC Marsh walking towards Mr Attanayake after a colleague tells him on the radio that he was a suspect.

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PC Marsh then hits Mr Attanayake on the head, handcuffs him and asks him to “get on the f****** floor now”.

Mr Attanayake is seen pleading with PC Marsh all this time, suggesting he is the one who called the police and demanding “please can you not do that?”.

PA reported that Mr Attanayake was later de-arrested at the scene.  

PC Marsh, of Canvey Island, Essex, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in June this year charged with assault by beating following an investigation by the IOPC. He pleaded not guilty to the crime and was given unconditional bail.

He was put on restricted duties until his trial that was set for November 6 at the same court.

The trail is still ongoing and will resume on January 29.