A police officer has been found guilty of assault after punching a man in the face after the arrest Lambeth.

PC Claudia Pastina, who worked for the South Basic Command Unit, was given a 16-week suspended sentence for two years and was also fined £748.

On Saturday, February 19, 2022, PC Pastina and a colleague attended a home on Stockwell Park Road, SW9, to reports of a man acting suspiciously.

The pair asked him to leave the area, but he refused.

They attempted to lead him away, but he resisted, resulting in him being put in handcuffs.

The man then bit PC Pastina and caused minor injuries to her colleague using a set of keys.

After arresting him for assaulting an emergency worker, PC Pastina struck the man in the face.

Following a criminal investigation by the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards, she was charged in August and placed on restricted duties.

Chief Superintendent Colin Wingrove, in charge of policing for Lambeth and Southwark, said: “The public trust us to use the powers we have fairly, professionally and act with the highest standards at all times.

“In this case the high standards we expect were not met. PC Pastina’s actions were completely unacceptable.

“We will always investigate allegations of wrongdoing and take the appropriate action. Misconduct proceedings will now follow.”

The Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards is currently processing a misconduct investigation.