The Metropolitan Police Service in the United Kingdom has dismissed Officer Shola Balogun, a Nigerian-British police officer, for allegedly biting a colleague during a party in Bexleyheath, Kent. The incident reportedly took place on April 22, 2022, at a 40th birthday celebration attended by about 70 people at the Goals Sports Bar.
Balogun and the victim, both stationed at Bromley Police Station, had a friendly working relationship and often engaged in light-hearted jokes. However, at the party, an altercation reportedly broke out after Balogun allegedly grabbed his colleague’s glasses. According to the hearing, he then bit his colleague on the face during the heated exchange. Balogun, however, denied biting his colleague and insisted that the removal of the glasses was accidental. Despite his claim, medical evidence confirmed the presence of a bite wound on the victim.
The dismissal was decided during a disciplinary hearing held from October 21 to 23, 2024. The panel, led by senior officer Christopher McKay and including IPM Amanda Harvey and Assessor-Detective Superintendent Kirsty Mead, found Balogun’s actions to be a violation of police conduct standards under the College of Policing Code of Ethics. The Code of Ethics highlights the importance of public confidence in police conduct. Balogun’s prior disciplinary record also factored into the decision.
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In their ruling, the panel explained, “The only appropriate and proportionate outcome in this case is Dismissal Without Notice.”
Citing legal precedent, they emphasized that although Balogun received strong character references from colleagues, his past disciplinary issues and the severity of the incident necessitated a strict penalty.
They noted, “Because of the importance of public confidence, the potential of such mitigation is necessarily limited. In this case, PC Balogun does not have an unblemished past, and the previous misconduct proved against him is serious.”
The panel highlighted that this decision was reached to uphold the standards expected of police officers, emphasizing that any action compromising public trust is taken seriously within the police force. Balogun’s dismissal underscores the importance the Metropolitan Police places on integrity, particularly in cases involving officer conduct among colleagues.