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Police jailed for beating black man

01 May 1992

PC Alec Mason, known among his colleagues as the "King of the Beat", was jailed for two and a half years at the Old Bailey following a vicious attack on an innocent black motorist in Tooting, south London in January 1990. A second officer, PC Gavin Larter, who was present during the attack, was jailed for four months after pleading guilty to perverting the course of justice by falsifying his record of the incident. Two other constables, PCs Toby Fletcher and Kevin Lucking received three month suspended sentences. Other officers, of senior rank, took part in the cover-up but were not prosecuted according to Judge Lawrence Varney.

The motorist, 25 year old Harold Benn, was initially stopped for speeding but when a breath test proved negative he was arrested on suspicion of having a stolen car. Reinforcements were called and about 20 police officers surrounded him when he protested his innocence. He was handcuffed and thrown face down into the back of a police van where PC Mason repeatedly stamped on his head and shouted racist abuse. During the journey to Tooting police station he was repeatedly kicked, punched and stamped on. Mr Benn was eventually released after he was found to be the legal owner of the car. He immediately lodged a complaint.

After the event PCs Mason, Larter and Fletcher conspired to falsify their notes of the arrest by accusing Benn of trying to bite them and omitting any mention of the attack.

Following the verdict at the Old Bailey Benn claimed that there were other officers present when he was arrested who didn't appear before the court. He also observed that: "You have to look into the police force and get rid of crime there before you can tackle crime on the street."

Guardian 28.3.92; Independent 17.3.92 28.3.92; South London Press 31.3.92.