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A police officer filmed smashing the windscreen of a car in north London has been placed on restricted duties while his use of force is investigated, Scotland Yard has announced.

Footage was widely shared on social media yesterday of the Gospel Oak incident, where an officer was shown hammering on the car’s windows before producing a knife to cut through the windscreen.

Driver Leon Fontana, 25 told the Standard he was lodging a complaint over the incident, which seemed to be a case of mistaken identity.

The mechanic said: “I just thought ‘is this for real? Is this really happening?’

“There was so much shock. It’s something nobody should ever have to experience.”

Today, the Met Police confirmed a complaint had been lodged over the driver's treatment and both officers shown in the footage had been placed on restricted duties.

The Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards is now probing the incident.

A spokesman said: “Although the investigation is in its early stages, it has been established that the officers stopped the vehicle based on information relating to a man who is of interest to police.

“On conclusion of the incident the officers identified that the driver was not the man in question and he was not arrested.

“The investigation will examine the officer’s use of force during the incident.”

The video, viewed thousands of times on social media, shows the officer repeatedly yelling: “Get out the car.”

The policeman then hits the driver's side window with what looks like a baton, before a voice can be heard saying: "I've got a licence. I've got a licence.

“I've got insurance. You're smashing this for no reason."

The policeman can be seen striking the windscreen, resulting in the glass shattering, and he then starts slicing around the damaged area with what appears to be a penknife.

When asked by the driver what the problem is, the officer tells him he is "not allowed to drive".