The Metropolitan Police in the UK has dismissed Nigerian-British officer PC Shola Balogun for biting a colleague at a birthday party.
The incident took place on April 22, 2022, during a celebration for an officer’s 40th birthday at Goals Sports Bar in Bexleyheath, South East London, which was attended by about 70 people.
During the hearing, an anonymous fellow officer testified that Balogun appeared “ridiculously drunk” upon arrival and continued drinking throughout the evening, becoming extremely intoxicated, as confirmed by other officers.
Around 11:30 p.m., as the victim was ascending a flight of stairs, he encountered Balogun, who removed his glasses and threw them on the floor. When the victim responded amicably, Balogun then pushed him by the throat.
Afterward, the victim reported Balogun’s behavior. The two were only a foot apart due to the loud music. At that moment, Balogun leaned in and bit the officer on his right cheek.
Balogun denied both pushing and biting his colleague, but the panel found his claims unconvincing, especially since a medical report indicated a suspected bite mark on the officer’s face.
The hearing concluded that Balogun’s actions were severe enough that a Final Written Warning would not be appropriate. The panel stated it was “satisfied on the balance of probabilities” that PC Balogun assaulted his colleague by biting him while off duty at Goals Bexleyheath.
