Police pay 7,500 pounds to Bengali teenager

A BENGALI teenager who claims he was punched in the head and stomach without warning by a policeman was paid pounds 7,500 by the Metropolitan Police yesterday in a settlement for damages, writes Jason Bennetto.

Fozilot Ali, 18, a student, sued the police for assault and false imprisonment following the alleged incident more than two years ago.

His settlement is the latest case in which the Metropolitan Police has paid damages. Earlier this week, Sir Paul Condon, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, spoke of his disquiet at the record amount of money being paid in compensation. In the past year the total was pounds 1,761,000.

In yesterday's case, which the police deny, the court heard that one evening in December 1992 Mr Ali, then aged 16, was standing outside a hospital in north-west London when several policemen approached them.

PC Paul Miller is alleged to have pushed Mr Ali without warning and destroyed some of his credit cards. He then said he would kick Mr Ali's 'Indian face' and pushed him a second time, it was claimed.

An argument broke out and PC Miller is also alleged to have punched Mr Ali in the side of the head and in the stomach. Police officers near by allegedly did nothing to help.