Kehinde Fajobi
The Metropolitan Police Service in the UK has dismissed Nigerian-British officer Shola Balogun from Bromley Police Station after he allegedly bit a fellow officer at a birthday party.
The misconduct hearing, which took place from October 21 to 23, 2024, was led by senior officer Christopher McKay, with IPM Amanda Harvey and Assessor-Detective Superintendent Kirsty Mead on the panel.
The incident reportedly occurred on April 22, 2022, during a 40th birthday celebration at Goals Sports Bar in Bexleyheath, Kent, attended by around 70 people.
According to hearing documents, Balogun and the victim, who were stationed together at Bromley, had previously engaged in friendly exchanges.
However, tensions reportedly escalated at the party when Balogun allegedly grabbed the victim’s glasses and bit him on the face following a heated exchange.
Balogun denied biting the officer, claiming that he only accidentally removed the glasses.
Despite his denial, medical reports confirmed that the victim sustained a bite wound.
The panel ruled that Balogun’s actions breached police standards, particularly the Discreditable Conduct section of the College of Policing Code of Ethics, which emphasises public confidence.
Despite receiving positive character references, including one from his inspector, the panel cited Balogun’s prior disciplinary record and the seriousness of the assault in its decision to dismiss him without notice.
Referencing a legal precedent, the panel noted, “The only appropriate and proportionate outcome in this case is Dismissal Without Notice.”
The panel elaborated: “In the present case, PC Balogun does not have an unblemished past, and the previous misconduct proved against him is serious. He committed a deliberate assault on a colleague without any explanation or justification.”
The panel ultimately determined that a final written warning was “not appropriate in this case,” concluding that Balogun’s dismissal without notice was necessary to maintain public trust.