Police officer shot and killed in custody centre in Croydon

A police officer has been shot and killed by a man at a police custody centre in Croydon.

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 he 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.

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.”