A murder investigation has been launched following the tragic death of a police officer in south London.
At approximately 02:15hrs on Friday, 25 September the officer was shot by a man who was being detained at Croydon Custody Centre in Windmill Lane.
Officers and paramedics treated the officer at the scene, and he was rushed to hospital by London Ambulance Service. Very tragically, he subsequently died as doctors, and medical staff tried to save his life.
The Met has confirmed that they are in the process of informing all of the officer’s family and that they are supporting them with specialist family liaison officers.
Officers detained a 23-year-old man at the scene. He was also taken to hospital with a gunshot wound and remains in a critical condition.
No police firearms were discharged during the incident.
Commissioner Cressida Dick said:
“This is a truly shocking incident in which one of our colleagues has lost his life in the most tragic circumstances. My heart goes out to his family, direct colleagues and friends.
“We are currently supporting his family and also have a dedicated team providing support to the officers and those in the custody centre who witnessed the shooting.
“When a colleague dies in the line of duty the shockwaves and sadness reverberates throughout the Met and our communities. Policing is a family, within London and nationally, and we will all deeply mourn our colleague.
“We are in the early stages of the investigation and are still working to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and we will provide further updates when we have them.”
Home Secretary Priti Patel said:
“I am deeply shocked and saddened to learn that a Metropolitan Police Officer has been shot and killed in the line of duty.
“My thoughts today are with his family, friends and policing colleagues in London and across the country.
“This morning, I spoke to Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick to express my condolences and to offer whatever support is needed as this tragic event is investigated.
“This is a sad day for our country and another terrible reminder of how our police officers put themselves in danger each and every day to keep the rest of us safe”.
Tributes from other sections of the emergency services have also been made following the murder.
London Fire Brigade Commissioner, Andy Roe, said:
“The thoughts of everyone at the London Fire Brigade are with the family, friends and colleagues of the police officer killed in Croydon.
“We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with all of our blue light family at this terrible time.”
A spokesperson for the London Ambulance Service said:
“This is truly shocking and tragic news.
“The thoughts of all of us at the London Ambulance Service are with the family friends and colleagues of the officer”.
A spokesperson for the National Police Chiefs’ Council said:
“There are no words to adequately describe this tragic and deeply upsetting event. Our sincere condolences go to the officer’s family, friends and wider Met Police colleagues.
“This is a sad day”.
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My heart and thoughts go out to the family, friends and colleagues of the Police Officer who was shot in custody. This is awful news and seems to be an endless attack on our Police Officers who put on their uniforms to protect us and have families waiting at home for them.
#ProtectTheProtectors x💙x
A tragic dearth which should never have been allowed to happen. When he was arrested why wasn’t he searched?
A sad mistake by a rookie untrained officer obviously. Hopefully this death will result in the tightening-up of officer training. Condolences to his family and colleagues at this very sad time.
Bit early to judge hiw the hell this happened. My condolences to family and colleagues who witnessed this tradgedy x
OMG at his should never have been allowed to happen, why wasn’t the gunman searched before being taken to the police station? Also our laws need to be tightened to protect our brave men, bring back the death penalty for blue light killings and child killers.
RIP a brave officer our laws have to be changed to protect you. Xx
Absolutely, couldn’t agree more.
It’s over a month now since since the custody sergeant was shot and killed by a suspect in the Surrey Custody suite and nothing has been heard since except that the suspect is still alive. (Who cares?).
How and why did it happen when supposedly the suspect was handcuffed behind his back?