Key Points
- Police Officer Convicted: Metropolitan Police Constable Adam Sahel, aged 34, attached to the Met’s Taskforce, has been found guilty of common assault following a trial at Southwark Crown Court.
- Station Yard Incident: The court heard that on 26 August 2023, PC Sahel confronted a junior colleague in the yard at Catford police station and sprayed him directly in the face with his police-issued PAVA spray.
- Attempted Cover-Up: Sahel actively attempted to cover up the assault by asking the victim to lie to supervisors, warning that reporting the incident would damage his career.
- False Claims to Colleagues: The officer suggested to fellow officers that the victim, whose eyes were visibly irritated by the incapacitant spray, was crying or had suffered a self-inflicted injury.
- Verdict and Sentencing: Although originally charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), Sahel was acquitted of ABH and convicted of the lesser charge of common assault. He will be sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on 23 September.
- Internal Disciplinary Action: Following the criminal conviction, PC Sahel faces an accelerated gross misconduct hearing that could result in his immediate dismissal from the force.
London (South London News) August 8, 2026 –Metropolitan Police officer PC Adam Sahel faces potential dismissal from the police service after being convicted of common assault at Southwark Crown Court. The 34-year-old officer, who served as part of the Met’s Taskforce, was found guilty on 5 August 2026 following a criminal trial.
The court was presented with evidence detailing how, on 26 August 2023, Sahel confronted a junior colleague in the yard of Catford police station in South East London. During the encounter, Sahel deployed his force-issued PAVA incapacitant spray directly into the junior officer’s face.
In the immediate aftermath, as supervisors noted the victim’s physical distress, Sahel sought to cover up his actions. Supervisors repeatedly inquired about the cause of the junior officer’s visible eye irritation.
Sahel pressured the victim not to tell the truth, telling him that making a formal complaint could prove detrimental to his future policing career.
Simultaneously, Sahel made misdirecting comments to other colleagues, suggesting that the victim was simply emotional and crying or had accidentally sustained an injury.
Despite these intimidation tactics and attempts to obstruct internal inquiries, both the victim and observing colleagues came forward to report the assault to senior officers.
The Metropolitan Police subsequently launched an internal misconduct and criminal investigation. Sahel was placed on restricted duties in December 2023 and formally charged on 22 February 2024 with assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH).
Following the trial, the jury cleared him of ABH but returned a guilty verdict for common assault. He is scheduled to return to Southwark Crown Court for sentencing on 23 September.
How Has the Metropolitan Police Leadership Responded to the Verdict?
Chief Superintendent Chris Green, Commander of the Met’s Taskforce, issued a statement following the court’s verdict addressing both the criminal conviction and the internal culture of the unit.
Chief Superintendent Chris Green stated that
“PC Sahel assaulted one of his own colleagues and then lied to his supervisors about what happened. There is no place in policing for officers who are dishonest and cannot meet the high standards we expect.”
He further elaborated on wider reform efforts, stating that
“Across the Met, we are committed to improving standards and bringing to justice those among our own ranks who break the law. In recent years we’ve worked hard to improve the culture within the Taskforce. This includes changing the leadership in some units, improving training and focusing on the standards and values expected of officers.”
With the criminal trial concluded, the Metropolitan Police Directorate of Professional Standards will proceed with an accelerated gross misconduct hearing, where Sahel faces immediate dismissal and placement on the College of Policing Barred List.
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Background of the Particular Development
PAVA (Pelargonic Acid Vanillylamide) spray is a synthetic pepper spray classified as a prohibited weapon under Section 5(1)(b) of the Firearms Act 1968, issued strictly to trained police officers for self-defence and the restraint of violent suspects. Its deployment causes severe pain, involuntary closure of the eyes, and temporary incapacitation.
The misuse of equipment by serving officers has become a critical focal point for the Metropolitan Police Service under Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, who pledged a comprehensive overhaul of force culture and professional standards following a series of high-profile scandals and the findings of the Casey Review.
The Met’s Taskforce, which includes specialized operational units such as the Territorial Support Group (TSG), Dog Support Unit, Marine Policing Unit, and Mounted Branch, has previously been highlighted for requiring cultural reform.
In response to historical complaints regarding peer pressure, workplace culture, and internal reporting mechanisms, senior leadership initiated structural overhauls aimed at creating clear pathways for junior officers to report misconduct without fear of reprisal or career detriment.
Prediction: How This Development Can Affect the Metropolitan Police and Serving Officers
The conviction of PC Adam Sahel and his subsequent disciplinary proceedings are likely to produce significant operational, cultural, and organizational impacts across the police service.
The decision of the junior officer and witnessing colleagues to defy pressure and report a senior or peer officer demonstrates a shifting dynamic in internal reporting culture.
By carrying this case through to a criminal conviction, the outcome reassures junior personnel that reports of internal bullying, assault, or misconduct will be investigated independently, without automatically damaging the victim’s career prospects.
This case sets a clear legal precedent regarding the internal misuse of police-issued incapacitants. Forces across England and Wales may introduce stricter auditing of equipment, body-worn video review protocols, and enhanced secondary checks on when and where PAVA canisters are weighed, checked, or discharged within police stations and secure yards.
With the Met actively implementing accelerated misconduct hearings for officers convicted of criminal offences, this case highlights a zero-tolerance approach toward dishonesty and physical misconduct within the ranks.
Serving officers face strict consequences—including loss of employment, criminal records, and inclusion on the national barred list—for actions previously written off as internal workplace friction or pranks.
For the broader public and oversight bodies, the prosecution of an officer for an attack on a colleague serves as a dual signal: while highlighting ongoing internal conduct challenges within specialist units, it also confirms that internal accountability mechanisms are actively processing and prosecuting criminal behavior among serving officers.
