Police watchdog launches probe into how Sex Education star was 'kicked and pepper-sprayed'

Netflix star Reece Richards was allegedly thrown to the ground, kicked, and pepper-sprayed by police officers earlier this month who mistook the actor for a suspect

The police watchdog has launched an investigation after an actor claimed he was pepper sprayed and kicked to the ground by Met Police officers.

Reece Richards, who stars in the Netflix show Sex Education, said he was attacked by officers in Fulham, west London, earlier this month after being mistaken for a suspect.

In a statement, Richards said that he had "heard stories about incidents like this" but had "never imagined it would happen to him".

"The officer shouted that I was under arrest and demanded I get on the ground. I was confused, unable to understand why I was suddenly being treated like a criminal," he said. "Calmly, I explained that I was a performer returning from a show, but one officer yelled, 'Get to the floor or I'll pepper-spray you.' Moments later, three more officers ran at me. They pepper-sprayed me, kicked my legs out from under me, threw me to the ground and handcuffed me."

"In a flash, I was facedown on the pavement with multiple officers holding me down, forcing my head into the ground," he said. "I couldn't see anything but I could hear my mum nearby, screaming and crying, begging them to let me go."

A spokesperson for the Independent Officer of Police Conduct said: "We have received a voluntary complaint referral this afternoon from Met Police following an incident on Fulham Palace Road, West London on 4 September where a man was arrested and Pava sprayed by police officers before he was de-arrested at the scene. We understand the man received minor injuries.

"The man complained about use of force and the false arrest and also alleges that he was only stopped because he was black, and he didn't fit the description of the suspects.

"We will now assess the referral and decide if any further action is required from us."