A London officer is jailed after assaulting a handcuffed man in a hospital. The incident occurred during a mental health assessment.
Rajan Solanki, 28 years old, worked in northeast London. A court sentenced him on Friday after he admitted to the assault.
The incident happened on June 9, 2024. Solanki and another officer went to the hospital to check on a man having a mental health assessment. The man was already restrained, with staff having cuffed him to the bed with a cuff attached to each wrist.
Around 1:15 a.m. on June 10, Solanki removed the man’s right handcuff. He struggled while re-applying it. Video showed Solanki restraining the man, holding the man’s neck in what looked like a choke-hold. The man seemed distressed and red-faced, and his breathing appeared restricted.
Solanki spoke to the man and threatened to choke him if he didn’t put his arm in the cuff. Other officers and staff helped re-apply the cuffs, positioning the man faced down on the bed. Solanki held his neck for 20 seconds.
Solanki received a 12-week jail sentence. He will also have 12 months of probation, which starts after his release.
Amanda Rowe, who directs the police watchdog, said officers must use reasonable force. She stated that Solanki used unlawful force in this case and that his actions could have been serious. The jail sentence reflects the crime’s severity.
The watchdog investigated the assault. They will discuss discipline with Scotland Yard later.