Memorial stone unveiled for murdered Met Sergeant Matt Ratana

A memorial stone has been unveiled to commemorate a Met officer who was shot dead by a handcuffed man at a custody centre.

Sergeant Matt Ratana, 54, a New Zealand-born British officer, was killed in Croydon in September 2020.

The stone, commissioned by the Police Memorial Trust, was erected yesterday in the public area outside the custody centre in Windmill Road, Croydon.

Colleagues and friends attended the memorial, marking four years since the Sergeant’s death, alongside Commissioner of the Met Sir Mark Rowley.

A Māori choir performed at the ceremony in recognition of the officer’s New Zealand roots, and members of the British Police Symphony Orchestra also played during the service.

Louis De Zoysa was found guilty of murder in June 2023, and sentenced to a whole-life term.

De Zoyza was arrested in September 2020 in London Road, Norbury, and taken to the Croydon Custody Centre. He had a gun hidden in a holster that officers had not found when searching him.

Sgt Ratana was hit by the first of three shots fired by De Zoysa. A second bullet struck him in his thigh before De Zoysa was contained by other officers.

Sgt Ratana died from his injuries in hospital.

Pictured top: Guards of honour during the unveiling of the memorial stone outside the custody centre in Windmill Road, Croydon (Picture: PA)