In a disturbing incident, Jason Matthews, a respected black community leader in London, was subjected to unnecessary force and wrongful arrest by PC Connor Jones of the Metropolitan Police. The Met has now issued an apology to Mr. Matthews for the distress he suffered due to the officer’s actions, but many are questioning if an apology is enough.
Pattern of Misconduct
Shockingly, PC Jones has faced three separate misconduct proceedings in the past two years alone related to excessive force:
- May 2023 – Reflective practice for the incident with Mr. Matthews
- July 2023 – Written warning for an undisclosed incident
- September 2024 – Final written notice for using a taser on a 16-year-old black boy’s neck
The fact that this officer was allowed to remain on the force and continue interacting with the public after multiple excessive force complaints is deeply troubling. It suggests a systemic failure to properly discipline problem officers and protect the community from their bad actions.
Justice Delayed
Mr. Matthews filed his complaint promptly in September 2019, but unbelievably, it took three full years for PC Jones to even face a misconduct meeting over the incident. This inexcusable delay sends a message that investigating officers of misconduct is not a priority for the Metropolitan Police leadership.
“The delay in the police looking into this sends the message that the police don’t care. There is no situation where this simple several minutes incident should have taken five years for the police to respond on and apologising for that delay that should have been a fundamental part of the letter.”
– Jason Matthews
Justice delayed is justice denied. The Met’s failure to properly investigate and resolve this complaint in a timely manner compounds the initial wrong of PC Jones’s actions and makes it even harder for the community to trust that officers will be held accountable.
Institutional Bias
Sadly, Mr. Matthews’ experience is far from an isolated occurrence. Last year, an investigation found the Metropolitan Police to be institutionally racist, homophobic, and misogynistic. The report expressed serious concerns about the police misconduct process, noting that even officers with repeated unacceptable behavior were rarely dismissed.
This case painfully illustrates those institutional biases and double-standards in action. Would a white community leader have been subjected to such excessive force for no reason? Would a complaint against an abusive officer have been delayed and concealed for years? The shameful statistics and experiences of the minority communities the Met is supposed to serve and protect clearly say no.
The Path Forward
Apologizing to Mr. Matthews is a necessary first step, but it is not sufficient on its own. For this apology to be meaningful, it must be followed by concrete action and reforms, such as:
- Swift, decisive discipline for officers with multiple excessive force incidents, up to and including termination when warranted
- Complete transparency around complaint investigations and outcomes to rebuild public trust
- Overhaul of the police misconduct system to eliminate delays and impose real consequences
- Extensive retraining for all officers on deescalation, anti-racism, and proper use of force, with a focus on dignity and fair treatment for all
- Proactive community outreach and dialogue to understand and address minority concerns
True change will require buy-in and commitment from the highest levels of Met leadership on down. They need to send an unequivocal message that misconduct and bigotry will not be tolerated, no matter how long an abusive officer has gotten away with it in the past.
As Mr. Matthews powerfully puts it:
“I want my kids if they have a problem to feel comfortable to call the police; not to feel the kind of anxiety I always have around the police and I want the police to understand and work with our community.”
– Jason Matthews
Repairing the broken trust between police and minority communities is one of the great challenges of our time. For the sake of its mandate to protect and serve all Londoners, the Metropolitan Police must seize this moment as a wake-up call to enact real reforms, not just offer empty words. If not now, when?
