The police oversight body has concluded that the force used by Metropolitan Police officers during the arrest of actor Reece Richards was “appropriate given the circumstances.”

Richards, known for his role in Netflix’s *Sex Education*, reported that he was pepper-sprayed, thrown to the ground, and kicked during his arrest in Fulham, West London, last September after officers mistakenly identified him as a criminal suspect.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) stated that their investigation revealed “no evidence” suggesting that any officers acted in a way that would warrant disciplinary or criminal charges.

Furthermore, the IOPC dismissed Richards’ claim that he was subjected to discriminatory treatment due to his race.

On September 4, the actor was returning home from a performance of *Hairspray* when he claimed to have witnessed a car accident and saw two men fleeing the scene. After directing the police towards where the suspects had run, he said four officers restrained him, exacerbating some prior injuries.

Richards and his mother subsequently filed a complaint with the IOPC, alleging wrongful arrest and racial profiling.

IOPC director Amanda Rowe remarked, “I want to recognize the distress this incident may have caused Reece Richards. He was merely an innocent bystander, and this must have been quite a terrifying ordeal.”

Richards believed he was detained due to his race, even though the suspects were white. The IOPC found that officers were reacting to a rapidly evolving situation, and since the only available suspect description was of one in dark clothing, it was reasonable for the officer who noticed Richards to think he could be involved.

The evidence suggested that the level of force applied by the officers was justified under the circumstances they faced, and Mr. Richards was released as soon as they confirmed he was not a suspect.