Police Commissioner Cressida Dick offers “heartfelt condolences” to family of police officer shot dead at Croydon custody centre

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick has offered her “heartfelt condolences” to the family of a police officer shot dead at a Croydon custody centre this morning.

At around 2.15am this morning the officer was shot by a man who was being detained at Croydon Custody Centre, in Windmill Lane.

Officers and paramedics treated him at the scene and he was taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service, but died later in hospital.

A 23-year-old man was detained by officers at the scene. He was also taken to hospital with a gunshot wound and remains in a critical condition.

The Metropolitan Police said no police firearms were discharged during the incident.

The Commissioner said: “This morning we learnt of the shocking death of a much loved colleague, a long-serving sergeant in the Metropolitan Police who was working last night in our Croydon custody suite.

“I have visited and spoken to our officer’s partner together with other colleagues. We are giving her the best support we can.

“My heartfelt condolences go to her, their family, colleagues and wide circle of friends. I am thinking of everyone who has been involved and affected by this terrible event.

“We are all deeply shocked and saddened.

“The Met is a family. Policing is a family, within London and across the United Kingdom, and today we are all mourning a great loss.

“I would like to thank our officers and staff, together with colleagues from the London Ambulance Service, London’s Air Ambulance and all medical staff who I know did everything they could to save his life.

“A murder investigation is under way and officers are working at several crime scenes to secure evidence and to establish the exact circumstances of this incident.

“We are working closely with the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

“Early indications are that the suspect shot himself. This has not yet been established as fact. The man remains in a critical condition in hospital.

“I understand that there is considerable interest in the identity of the officer, but we have not yet been able to inform all of his close family.

“The investigations will establish the full facts of what happened. I would ask you all to show restraint in speculating on what took place.

“This terrible incident underlines once again how police officers face danger every day in their work to protect the public.

“I will issue more information when I can later today.”

Pictured top: Met Commissioner Cressida Dick