A Metropolitan Police officer, PC Sevda Gonen, 33, has been found guilty of assault after slapping a 16-year-old boy with mental health difficulties multiple times in the face during a hospital transport on 13 November 2023. Gonen had denied the charge, claiming concern for the boy’s life, but the prosecution argued she acted out of frustration. Westminster Magistrates’ Court also found Gonen and PC Stuart Price, 35, guilty of conducting an unlawful search amounting to assault by beating. Sentencing is set for 24 January.
Police were called to the boy’s home after he reportedly became aggressive and acted violently toward a mental health worker performing an assessment. Prosecutor Lyndon Harris stated Gonen believed the boy was “faking some form of mental illness.”
The boy’s mother expressed concern for his welfare, prompting Price to offer transport to the hospital in a police vehicle. Once inside, the boy lit a cigarette and began smoking, refusing to close the rear door by keeping his foot outside. Bodyworn camera footage revealed that after a struggle, the boy was handcuffed but not arrested, and subjected to an unlawful search.
Footage also showed Price informing Gonen that the boy had spat in his face. Gonen used a coat collar to cover the boy’s mouth and later slapped him repeatedly while holding his hair, actions she claimed were attempts to prevent a medical emergency. Judge Briony Clarke noted the boy was slapped 16 times and concluded that Gonen had believed he was faking his condition, later justifying her actions with a medical explanation suggested by a colleague.
The boy’s behaviour changed during the incident, with his eyes lowering and responsiveness decreasing. Price’s comments on the footage included concerns for the boy’s wellbeing, stating: “You alright, mate? We’re just trying to help you, mate.”
Gonen defended her actions in court, stating: “At that moment, I thought I was saving someone’s life. I believed I was preventing a medical emergency.” However, the court rejected her defense, emphasizing the inappropriate use of force against a vulnerable individual.