Guildford police officer found guilty of common assault
It follows an incident in June 2020
A Surrey Police officer has been found guilty of common assault.
54 year old Sergeant Terry Fry was a Guildford neighbourhood team officer at the time of the incident in 2020 but retired from the force earlier this year (February 2021).
The assault happened at around 12.30am on 10 June 2020 at Guildford Police Station.
The victim was a 15-year-old boy who had been arrested for a number of offences, including assaulting police, racially aggravated public order and arson.
He had been restrained in a body cuff, leg restraints and a spit hood on the floor in his cell, and was being extremely aggressive, violent and verbally abusive.
The court heard how Sgt Fry was assisting with the restraint and was shouting at the teenager and telling him to stop assaulting his colleagues.
Following a further verbal exchange, Sgt Fry got down on his right knee and placed his left knee in the boy’s chest before being pulled away by some of his colleagues.
The matter was reported by the boy’s appropriate adult, who witnessed the incident from the cell door.
Sgt Fry was interviewed under caution on 4 September 2020.
He will be sentenced on 1 September 2021.
Temporary Assistant Chief Constable for Surrey Police Ali Barlow said:
“Our officers join the Force to serve and protect the Surrey public from harm and whilst there are times where force has to be used in order to do so, excessive use of force, as seen in this case, is completely unacceptable.
“Sgt Fry crossed the line by assaulting a 15-year-old boy whilst he was already being restrained by officers in custody and today’s verdict will ensure that he is held accountable for his actions.
“Sgt Fry will be sentenced on 1 September and whilst he has since retired from the Force, he will still face gross misconduct proceedings at a later date.”