Metropolitan Police officers sacked for gross misconduct over athlete search

On Wednesday, the panel found Pc Clapham and Pc Franks had lied about smelling cannabis during the stop and search

Athletes Bianca Williams and Ricardo Dos Santos outside Palestra House, central London. Picture date: Wednesday October 25, 2023. (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Two Metropolitan Police constables have been dismissed without notice after a disciplinary panel found their actions during a “highly distressing” stop and search of two black athletes amounted to gross misconduct.

Jonathan Clapham and Sam Franks were sacked after it was found they lied about smelling cannabis when they pulled over Olympic sprinter Ricardo Dos Santos, 28, and his partner and Team GB athlete Bianca Williams, 29, on July 4 2020.