Croydon shooting: 'Dedicated' officer shot dead inside police station

A ‘dedicated’ police officer has died after being shot inside a police station by a man who’d been detained.

The officer was shot at Croydon Custody Centre, south London at 2.15am on Friday, the Metropolitan Police said.

He was treated at the scene by officers and paramedics and rushed to hospital, but sadly died.

In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said a 23-year-old man was detained by officers at the scene and also taken to hospital with a gunshot wound. He is in a critical condition.

Scotland Yard said no police firearms were discharged during the incident.

According to reports, the 23-year-old had turned the gun on himself after shooting the officer.

Tributes have poured in to the officer, described as a “ brave and dedicated family member”, who is believed to be the first officer shot and killed on duty since September 2012 when Dale Cregan killed PCs Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes.

Tributes have been paid to the officer by colleagues, as well as Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Home Secretary Priti Patel and Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer.

Johnson has sent his “deepest condolences” to the family, friends and colleagues of the officer saying: “We owe a huge debt to those who risk their own lives to keep us safe.”

In a statement, Home Secretary Priti Patel said she was: “deeply shocked and saddened”.

She said: “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.”

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan tweeted: “Devastated by this news. My heart goes out to the family of this brave officer, who has paid the ultimate price for helping to keep Londoners safe.“Tragic incidents like this are terrible reminders of the dangers our police officers face every single day.”

Justice Secretary Robert Buckland tweeted he was “shocked and saddened” by the news.

He said: “My thoughts are with the officer’s loved ones, colleagues and the wider police community.”

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: “Horrific to hear of a police officer being shot and killed in Croydon.

“Our police put themselves in harm’s way every day to keep us safe.“All my thoughts are with the officer’s family, friends and colleagues.”

The Met Police in Croydon tweeted: “Today we lost an honorable, brave and dedicated family member. Our hearts are with the officers immediate family at this time following this devastating loss.”

Sarah Jones, MP for Croydon Central, tweeted: “Absolutely shocking news. I am speaking to the police on the details of this awful incident. My thoughts are with the family and colleagues of the officer killed.”

Steve Reed, Labour MP for Croydon North, said his thoughts were with the officer’s family and colleagues, tweeting: “All of us in Croydon are in shock at this heartbreaking tragic news.”

Metropolitan Police 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.”

In a statement, Scotland Yard said: “At approximately 0215 on Friday, September 25 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. Very tragically he subsequently died at hospital.

“We are in the process of informing all of the officer’s family and are supporting them with specialist officers.

“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.

“No police firearms were discharged during the incident.”