Met Officer Odusote sacked for punching suspect outside Police Station

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

A Metropolitan Police officer has been dismissed after a misconduct panel found he used excessive force on a suspect and attempted to cover it up.

PC Peter Odusote, attached to the Central West Basic Command Unit, was fired following a disciplinary hearing that concluded on Thursday, 26 February, 2026.

The panel heard that the incident occurred on 15 August, 2023 outside Charing Cross Police Station, where Odusote detained a man accused of committing criminal damage to a police vehicle.

During the arrest, the suspect spat at the officer. In response, Odusote punched the man in the face, an action the panel ruled to be excessive and disproportionate.

The hearing further revealed that the officer failed to document the punch in his official statement, deliberately omitting the use of force in what was deemed an attempt to conceal his actions.

He was found to have breached the standards of professional behaviour relating to use of force, as well as honesty and integrity.

Superintendent Owen Renowden said both the force and the public expect officers to exercise necessary, reasonable and proportionate force at all times.

“On this occasion the officer’s actions were not acceptable and it is right that they have been held to account for their actions,” he stated.

Following his dismissal, PC Odusote will be placed on the College of Policing’s barred list, preventing him from working in policing or associated oversight bodies, including local policing organisations, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services.