Met officer pleads guilty to possession of indecent images of children

A Met police officer has pleaded guilty to three counts of possession of indecent images of children.

Darren Hourigan, 51, who is attached to the South Area Command Unit, which covers Bromley and Croydon, appeared at Kingston Crown Court today.

An investigation by the Met’s online child sexual exploitation and abuse team, supported by the directorate of professional standards, led to Hourigan’s arrest in March 2020.

Hourigan was suspended from duty before he was charged on September 21, 2022. He appeared at Kingston Crown Court on November 14, 2022, where he was bailed ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing.

Misconduct proceedings will commence in due course and he will be sentenced at the same court on July 7.

Chief Superintendent Andy Brittain said: “We have made it clear that the Met will take action against any of its staff who are not fit to remain within the organisation, and we will now prepare for a misconduct hearing.

“We are committed to providing Londoners with a Met that they deserve, one that upholds the law on the streets of the capital and amongst its own ranks.”

Pictured top: Kingston Crown Court where Darren Hourigan pleaded guilty today (Picture: Google street view)