Birmingham officer sacked for dragging Muslim woman in 'state of undress' from property

After an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) the complaint against PC Paul Littler, from Birmingham, was found proved at a force hearing arranged by the force on May 21. However, the IOPC said the evidence "did not indicate that she had been treated less favourably because of her race".

A disciplinary panel led by an independent and legally qualified chair, heard that the officer disregarded the woman’s protests when she tried to show him evidence on her mobile of her right to stay at the property. 

He told her: “I am the police, I can make up stuff as I go along, can't I”, and “I’ve read it, you are still getting dragged out”. 

IOPC Director Derrick Campbell said: “PC Littler was in a position of trust but he treated the woman with a lack of respect despite her being at a multi-occupancy property housing people with vulnerabilities. 

“As she was being dragged outside she told police she was she was a Muslim, hijab-wearing woman and that she had no trousers on. The panel agreed this was undignified and that the officer failed to respect her request for modesty. Allegations that dragging her in handcuffs was inappropriate and that PC Littler used language indicating he would abuse his power as a police officer, were also found proven.” 

PC Littler was dismissed without notice after he was found to have breached police professional standards of behaviour for duties and responsibilities; authority, respect and courtesy; use of force; and discreditable conduct. He will be added to the College of Policing barred list preventing future employment with the police. 

The IPOC said body worn footage showed that the officers were responding to a report that the landlord had been barricaded into the property in November 2022. On arrival they found that was not the case and the woman was sitting on the floor in hallway refusing to leave. Our investigators were told that the woman was handcuffed and removed from the property to prevent a breach of the peace.  

On completing our inquiries the following June we found a case to answer for misconduct against PC Littler. As he was already on a final written warning from a previous, unrelated incident he was brought before a gross misconduct hearing. 

Our investigation considered whether the woman had been discriminated against, but in our view the evidence did not indicate she had been treated less favourably because of her race.  

We also found a case to answer for misconduct for another constable over their communication with the woman during the incident and role in dragging her from the property. A misconduct meeting for the officer could not be arranged until the conclusion of these proceedings and it will now be organised by the force.