Video: Watch the '˜shocking' moment sacked PCs chased autistic Faruk Ali

Footage of the moment two police officers laughed and joked as they chased after an autistic man has emerged for the first time.
A still image from the dashcam footageA still image from the dashcam footage
A still image from the dashcam footage

On February 20 2014 PC Christopher Pitts and PC Christopher Thomas chased and detained Mr Ali outside his home in Whitby Road, Luton, while the 33-year-old watched the bins being taken out.

Yesterday both officers were sacked from the force for gross misconduct, following an eight day misconduct hearing over the incident.

Following that finding the Luton News has obtained footage which was recorded on a dashboard camera inside the officers’ car that morning.

A still image from the dashcam footageA still image from the dashcam footage
A still image from the dashcam footage

It shows the PCs deciding to turn around after spotting Faruk, they say because he ‘looked suspicious’,

As they spin around one of the PCs can be heard saying ‘f***ing cracking me up’ and as Faruk starts running home PC Pitts urges his colleague to chase after the autistic man by saying ‘go on, go, go’.

After driving through Bury Park the pair turn onto Whitby Road, where Faruk was confronted by PC Thomas.

The autistic man can be heard calling for his mother as he ran into his family home.

Christopher Thomas (left) and Christopher Pitts (right) have been sacked for gross misconductChristopher Thomas (left) and Christopher Pitts (right) have been sacked for gross misconduct
Christopher Thomas (left) and Christopher Pitts (right) have been sacked for gross misconduct

Following the incident the PCs got back inside the car and drove away, dashboard footage from this shows PC Pitts joking: “Welcome to Bury Park”.

Faruk’s brother Dhobir told the Luton News that the dashcam video is still difficult for him and his family to watch.

He said: “The first time I saw it I got very emotional, it really got to me that officers had done, said and behaved in this way.

“I just couldn’t comprehend it.

Faruk AliFaruk Ali
Faruk Ali

“I was shocked to hear them laughing and giggling throughout it.”

Attiq Malik, representing the Ali family, added: “There are two parts to it and the first one is disputed, we say that during the footage you can hear racial, derogatory words said but the panel could not be sure so there was no finding.

“It is now for the public to decide, I know what I think but the police have their own interpretation.

“The second part is agreed, what you can hear is unbecoming of any person who has a duty and responsibility to the public.”

A still image from the dashcam footageA still image from the dashcam footage
A still image from the dashcam footage

Following a criminal trial in December 2014 both PC Thomas and PC Pitts were found not guilty of misconduct in a public office, while PC Thomas was also cleared of racially aggravated assault over the incident.

However they will no longer have a future in the force after a misconduct panel sitting in Wyboston found that they breached standards of professional conduct.

The misconduct panel found PC Thomas guilty of gross misconduct for breaches of honesty and integrity, authority respect and courtesy, equality and diversity (disability) and discreditable conduct.

It also found PC Pitts, from Bedford, guilty of gross misconduct in relation to breaches of honesty and integrity, authority respect and courtesy and discreditable conduct.

IPCC commissioner Mary Cunneen has welcomed the decision and slammed the officers for their “shocking behaviour”.

She said: “This case illustrates the importance that police officers should be held to account for their actions.

Christopher Thomas (left) and Christopher Pitts (right) have been sacked for gross misconductChristopher Thomas (left) and Christopher Pitts (right) have been sacked for gross misconduct
Christopher Thomas (left) and Christopher Pitts (right) have been sacked for gross misconduct

“There is no place in policing for the shocking behaviour exhibited by these officers.

“The investigation highlights the continuing need for police to treat vulnerable people with the dignity and respect they deserve”.