A hearing has found that a former British Transport Police officer would have been dismissed without notice following an incident in Hounslow.

Former PC Gavin Parsons did not attend the hearing where he was due to answer allegations that he breached the standards of professional behaviour.

It was alleged that PC Parsons attended an incident, on duty, at Hounslow East Underground station at around 3am on the 15th of March last year.

He arrested a man during the incident and following his arrest, the man was lying on the ground facing away from former PC Parsons and handcuffed behind his back.

Former PC Parsons raised his baton and struck the man twice on his back.

The force used was found not to be necessary, proportionate or reasonable in the circumstances, and the Independent Panel found his actions amounted to gross misconduct.

The Panel said had he remained a serving officer, he would have been dismissed without notice.

Detective Chief Inspector Martin Turner, of BTP’s Professional Standards, said: “When police officers use force they are expected to do so reasonably, proportionately and only when it’s necessary – and it is clear that the actions of PC Parsons fell short of that, and the standards the public rightly expect of our officers.

“The force that PC Parsons used in this case was both excessive and unnecessary, and it’s right that he has now been held accountable for it.

“Treating everyone we encounter on the railway with fairness and respect is a fundamental principle of BTP, so I support the decision of the Panel who would have dismissed him with immediate effect.”