Met Police: Apologise To ZH And Do Not Appeal Correct High Court Ruling In His Case

In Septembner 2008, a severely autistic teenager with a mental age of five and learning disabilities went on a school trip to a swimming pool in West London. While there he became 'fixated' with the water, as a result of his disabilities, and jumped into the water fully clothed. What happened next is truly shocking. The Metropolitan Police were called and ZH was moved to the shallow end and lifted out by lifeguards, with two police officers taking hold of his arms before handcuffs and leg restraints were applied. Soaking wet, agitated and distressed, he was placed alone in a cage in the rear of a police van until calmed by carers and allowed to leave with them. Today, the High Court ruled that this was assault, disability discrimination and a breach of the human rights of ZH. I believe that this ruling is fully correct. However, the Met Police today refused to apologise to ZH and his family, saying instead that they would appeal the ruling- even though the judge refused permission for such an appeal to take place. Had ZH been physically five years of age the police would most probably never have been called. We petition The Metropolitan Police to make a full apology to ZH and his family and not to appeal the correct ruling of the High Court in this case.