A Metropolitan Police officer who was convicted of assault after he got into a row with his neighbour over parking has been sacked.
PC Daniel Traynor, 38, pushed Joshua Smith on November 29, 2024, after he returned to his home in east London to find a vehicle “blocking access to his property”.
A misconduct hearing in south London on Monday heard Mr Smith then punched the officer and the pair “grappled and fell to the floor”, leading to Scotland Yard being called to the address.
Traynor, who was later convicted of a single charge of assault by beating, has now been dismissed for gross misconduct by Commander Andy Brittain, who found that his conduct was “wholly unbecoming of a police officer”.
Jennie Oborne, representing the force, told the hearing Traynor had “made various inquiries” to find the owner and driver of the vehicle on the date of the incident.
It was heard after Mr Smith had come out of his property, the pair “engaged in a conversation that turned into a verbal argument”.
Mr Smith then approached Traynor’s property to speak with the officer’s partner, but there was no answer at the door.
Traynor and his partner then went to Mr Smith’s home and when the neighbour answered, another argument “broke out”.
Traynor was dismissed for gross misconduct by Metropolitan Police
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The officer then pushed Mr Smith with both hands which caused him to fall backwards, Ms Oborne said.
Ring doorbell footage of the incident shows Mr Smith then punch Traynor before they “grappled and fell to the floor”.
On November 12, 2025, Traynor was convicted of assault by beating at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
The officer was sentenced to 80 hours of unpaid work, 15 rehabilitation activity days and ordered to pay £500 in costs and £114 to his victim.
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Traynor was convicted of assault by beating at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in November last year
| PAThe misconduct hearing was told the conviction related to the initial push by Traynor to Mr Smith.
The officer did not attend the misconduct hearing on Monday and asked for it to be adjourned over medical reasons.
His application was rejected by Mr Brittain, who proceeded in his absence.
Mr Brittain said that Traynor denies the allegation and “maintained that he acted in a reasonable self-defence and in defence of another”.
He added the officer has lodged an appeal against his conviction.
Ms Oborne said the incident caused harm both to Mr Smith by virtue of the assault and to “public confidence in policing”.
“The ability for a police officer to keep their temper even when provoked is, in my submission, of paramount importance in maintaining public confidence in policing,” she added.
Mr Brittain said Traynor’s actions were “deliberate and targeted”, adding: “He could have walked away at any stage or sought help at dealing with the dispute.”
He added that Traynor “chose to stay”, even when the dispute became “increasingly heated”.
Mr Brittain said Traynor was “fully culpable” for his actions, adding that there has been “no evidence of insight or acceptance of responsibility by Traynor”.
“His conduct was wholly unbecoming of a police officer and would undermine public trust and confidence in the police,” Mr Brittain added.
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