A police officer has been shot dead at Croydon Custody Centre in south London.<\/p>\n
The officer was shot by a man who was being detained at the centre in Windmill Road.<\/p>\n
It is believed the suspect was taken to the centre, where he was being searched, before producing a weapon and firing it at an officer and himself.<\/p>\n
The officer was treated at the scene by paramedics after the incident at 02:15 BST. He later died in hospital of gunshot wounds.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
No police firearms were discharged during the incident, the Met Police said. The officer’s family are being supported by specialist officers.<\/p>\n
Asked about how someone could enter the building while armed, former Det Ch Insp Chris Phillips said: “I think police officers are probably less likely to search people now with all the furore that goes on.<\/p>\n
“When people get arrested there is a general view that they should be searched before being transported to the police station but that doesn’t always happen – and it depends on what the man was arrested for in the first place.<\/p>\n
“This goes down the line about handcuffing – do you handcuff, when do the handcuffs get taken off for protection etc.”<\/p>\n
Met Commissioner Cressida Dick described the loss of her colleague as “truly shocking”.<\/p>\n
“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,” she said.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Boris Johnson\u00a0wrote on social media<\/a>: “My deepest condolences go to the family, friends and colleagues of the police officer who was killed in Croydon last night.<\/p>\n “We owe a huge debt to those who risk their own lives to keep us safe.”<\/p>\n Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “I am deeply shocked and saddened to learn that a Metropolitan Police Officer has been shot and killed in the line of duty.<\/p>\n “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.”<\/p>\n The incident has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct which will lead an independent investigation.<\/p>\n The Met continues to investigate the officer’s murder.<\/p>\n Source: bbc.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"