'WE KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE' Met PCSO jailed for witness intimidation over threat to harassment victim

A SERVING Met Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) has been sentenced for witness intimidation. PCSO Mohammed Zaman, attached to the West Area Command Unit, appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on Monday, 16 May where he was sentenced to 20 weeks’ imprisonment. This following his conviction following trial at Willesden Magistrates Court on Friday, 4 March.

Westminster Magistrates' Court heard that on March 24 2021, PCSO Zaman was off duty when he met a woman, who at the time was a victim in a harassment case, in a shop. He spoke to her and used words that intimidated her, saying that he and his friends knew where she lived.

On Friday prosecutor Anushika Weerasena, said when Zaman had met the victim in a shop he accused her son of stealing motorbikes. Zaman, 28, of Hounslow, west London, later branded the woman "a liar, working class and chavvy during a police interview.

Ms Weerasena told the court: "The victim said this incident left her feeling unsafe and set off her anxieties.

"It made her feel like she doesn't want to leave her own home and had to ask friends to pick up her kids from school." The incident was reported to police and an investigation was launched by the West Area Command Unit. PCSO Zaman was arrested the following day. He was subsequently charged on 15 April 2021 and suspended from duty.

Zaman argued he could not go to jail as his mother had suffered two strokes in the past year.

He was allowed until today to produce proof of this, but failed to and was jailed today (May 16).

He said he plans to appeal the conviction.

Now that criminal proceedings have concluded Met Police misconduct proceedings will take place as soon as possible.

Chief Superintendent Sean Wilson, in charge of policing for Ealing, Hillingdon and Hounslow, said: “The actions of this officer have undermined the trust and confidence that people have in our organisation. “His actions are not representative of the standards of behaviour that we expect from our employees and we will always investigate those who do not meet those standards and hold them to account.”