The statement made by the Metropolitan Police on 24 May 2023.
Understandably there has been extensive comment on this case in the media and on social media.
Now that an individual has been charged, I would ask that the judicial process be respected and allowed to take its proper course.
The press release issued by the Metropolitan Police on 21 March 2023 in response to the Casey Report.
The Metropolitan Police has welcomed a report into its culture and standards and has called for it to be a catalyst for police reform.
The report follows an extensive review by Baroness Casey of Blackstock. Its findings, many of which are very critical of the Met, will be taken forward to inform and shape an ambitious plan to reform and rebuild trust while delivering for Londoners.
Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said: “This report sparks feelings of shame and anger but it also increases our resolve.
“I am proud of those people, our officers and staff, whose passion for policing and determination to reform moved them to share their experiences with such honesty.
“This is, in many ways, their report. It must be a catalyst for police reform.
“This report needs to lead to meaningful change. If it only leads to pillory and blame of the exceptional majority of officers then only criminals will benefit.
“We need it to galvanise Londoners, the dedicated police majority and politicians to coalesce around reform and the renewal of policing by consent for the 21st century.”
The review was commissioned by the Met in October 2021 following the appalling murder of Sarah Everard by a serving officer and its publication follows other catastrophic and criminal incidents involving other officers.
Baroness Casey was asked to examine the standards of behaviour and internal culture of the Met and to make recommendations on the actions required.
Her final report, published today (Tuesday, 21 March), explores a wide range of issues including the Met’s organisation, its support for officers and staff, discrimination, standards, its approach to protecting women and children and its wider operational effectiveness.
Sir Mark added: “The appalling examples in this report of discrimination, the letting down of communities and victims, and the strain faced by the frontline, are unacceptable.
“We have let people down and I repeat the apology I gave in my first weeks to Londoners and our own people in the Met. I am sorry.
“I want us to be anti-racist, anti-misogynist and anti-homophobic. In fact, I want us to be anti-discrimination of all kinds.
“There are external factors – funding, governance, growing demand and resource pressures that shouldn’t sit with policing – that the report has identified. Baroness Casey is right to identify the impact these have had on our ability to police London, but there can be no excuses for us.
“The core of the problems are for policing to determinedly confront.”
The Met’s Turnaround Plan was intentionally published in draft form in January.
It marked the start of a conversation and a programme of meaningful engagement with communities and partners with a revised and final version to be published in late Spring.
Baroness Casey’s report will play a crucial role in shaping those ongoing conversations and will ensure the final plan meets the scope and scale of the challenge we are confronted with.
Sir Mark said: “Our Turnaround Plan is already building momentum across the Met.
“I am reassured that a number of issues highlighted by Baroness Casey – our service to victims, rebuilding neighbourhood policing and how we protect the most vulnerable for example – are priorities we too had identified.
“Baroness Casey’s insights, alongside feedback from the public, will greatly influence the next version.
“We know that the challenges ahead of us are not simple, but we have tens of thousands of inspiring and hard-working officers and staff and we will be determined and relentless in taking them on.
“I am confident we will succeed.”
A copy of Sir Mark’s letter to Baroness Casey is available online.
The press release issued by the Met Police on 16 January 2023.
The Met today condemns the appalling criminal actions of a serving officer after he pleaded guilty to multiple rapes and other serious sexual offences.
David Carrick appeared at Southwark Crown Court today (Monday, 16 January) and entered guilty pleas to false imprisonment, indecent assault and four counts of rape. At a previous hearing at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, 13 December he pleaded guilty to 43 offences including 20 counts of rape, and further counts of controlling and coercive behaviour and sexual assault.
He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced at a hearing to take place at Southwark Crown Court beginning on Monday, 6 February.
Assistant Commissioner Barbara Gray, the Met’s lead for Professionalism, said: “On behalf of the Metropolitan Police, I want to apologise to the women who have suffered at the hands of David Carrick.
“I commend their outstanding bravery in coming forward and reporting the horrific crimes they were victims of.
“Carrick is a prolific, serial sex offender who preyed on women over a period of many years, abusing his position as a police officer and committing the most horrific, degrading crimes.
“He has devastated women’s lives. He has had a devastating impact on the trust and confidence of women and girls that we are working so hard to earn. He has devastated colleagues.
“He used the fact he was a police officer to control and coerce his victims. We know they felt unable to come forward sooner because he told them they would not be believed.
“We should have spotted his pattern of abusive behaviour and because we didn’t, we missed opportunities to remove him from the organisation.
“We are truly sorry that Carrick was able to continue to use his role as a police officer to prolong the suffering of his victims.
“I would also like to recognise the work of the Hertfordshire Constabulary officers whose thorough investigation has meant Carrick’s victims have been spared the further ordeal of a trial.”
After Carrick was charged with rape in October 2021, the Met began a thorough review of his service, his conduct and complaints record, any occasions on which he had come to the notice of the police and his vetting.
It was established that he was on police systems in relation to a number of off duty incidents both before and after his employment as a police officer. These incidents were in the Met’s force area and in those of other forces.
With the exception of his arrest in October 2021, none of these incidents resulted in any criminal sanction at the time.
However, when the overall case history is examined now in detail, it reveals a pattern of behaviour that should have raised concerns regardless of the outcome of individual incidents.
AC Gray added: “The duration and nature of Carrick’s offending is unprecedented in policing. But regrettably he is not the only Met officer to have been charged with serious sexual offences in the recent past.
“Our work to identify and rid the Met of corrupt officers is determined and focussed.
“As the Commissioner has said, we will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of those who are engaged in corrupt or criminal behaviour using all the available tactics and techniques at our disposal.”
In response to the recent report by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services and the interim findings of the Baroness Casey review, the Met has invested millions of pounds and brought in over 400 additional officers and staff to identify and investigate offenders within the police service.
A dedicated Domestic Abuse and Sexual Offending investigation team has been set up with over 50 experienced investigators targeting any officer or staff member who may be engaged in domestic abuse or sexual offences.
All current officers and staff who have previously been the subject of allegations of sexual offending or domestic abuse, where allegations couldn’t be proven and were not subject of misconduct hearings, are subject to an ongoing review.
A new Anti-Corruption and Abuse Command is proactively investigating and identifying officers and staff who abuse their positions of trust whether on duty or off duty, in person or online.
There has been significant investment in intelligence capabilities and in the skills of specialist investigators.
A thorough audit of national police databases, to identify intelligence and information about officers and staff that may not be known by the organisation, is under way.
An internal appeal is asking Met officers and staff to report corruption and abuse and for the first time in policing, an anti-corruption and abuse hotline has been launched, in partnership with Crimestoppers, where the public can anonymously report Met officers and staff who abuse their positions of power and trust.
Further information about David Carrick:
Carrick was arrested in October 2021 and was immediately suspended.
A thorough and complex investigation was carried out by Hertfordshire Constabulary, culminating in the guilty pleas entered at court. Met officers have provided every possible assistance and cooperation to the investigation throughout.
As soon as Carrick entered his first guilty pleas, his pay was stopped and the accelerated misconduct process was initiated which will conclude with a hearing to be held in his absence on Tuesday, 17 January.
After Carrick was charged, a thorough review was carried out covering his career history, any complaints received during his service, occasions that he came to the notice of police and his vetting.
Career history:
Carrick joined the Met in 2001. He initially worked as a response officer in Merton and Barnet. In 2009 he transferred to what is now the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command where he remained until his arrest and suspension in October 2021.
He had no prior service with any other police force.
Public complaints:
Carrick was the subject of five complaints from members of the public during his Met service. They were all received between 2002 and 2008 and none were of a sexual nature.
Two complaints alleged that Carrick had been rude in his manner towards members of the public. These were investigated and dealt with by management action locally.
Three further complaints, relating to incivility and use of force, were received but subsequently withdrawn or dismissed.
Off duty matters:
We identified that Carrick had come to the attention of the Met and other forces on nine* occasions prior to October 2021 but that on none of those occasions had he been charged with a criminal offence.
2000 (MPS)
Prior to the start of his police service, he was a suspect in two offences involving the same female victim. One involved an allegation of malicious communications and the second an allegation of burglary.
The victim was a former partner. Carrick had refused to accept the end of their relationship.
He was not arrested and no further action was taken in relation to either allegation.
*The above two allegations are counted separately as they were reported at different times within the same year.
2002 (MPS)
Carrick was accused of harassment and assault against a former partner. He was not arrested and no further action was taken in relation to the criminal investigation.
This was after the start of his service as a police officer, but the matter was not referred to the Directorate of Professional Standards. Information about this matter and our review of it has been shared with the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
2004 (MPS)
Carrick was involved in a domestic incident. No criminal allegations were made, he was not arrested. The matter was not referred to the Directorate of Professional Standards as there was no criminal allegation.
2009 (Herts)
Hertfordshire Constabulary officers responded to a third party report of a domestic incident involving Carrick. No criminal allegations were made and he was not arrested. Records held by Hertfordshire in relation to this incident suggest Met supervisors were informed at the time however no record of this has been found on Met systems. It doesn’t appear a formal referral to the Met was made.
2016 (Hants)
Carrick was initially a suspect in a Hampshire Police investigation following an allegation of harassment. He was not arrested and the investigation was later closed.
2017 (TVP)
We understand that Carrick was spoken to by Thames Valley Police officers having been ejected from a nightclub in Reading for being drunk. This information has been provided by a third party and there is no record of the incident on police systems. It is understood Carrick was not arrested and the matter was not referred to the Met.
2019 (Herts)
It was alleged that Carrick had assaulted a woman during a domestic incident dealt with by Hertfordshire Constabulary officers, specifically that he grabbed her by the neck.
No further action was taken. The matter was referred to the Met and Carrick was given words of advice in relation to informing his chain of command about off duty incidents.
Following the decision to take no further action in relation to the criminal allegation, it was determined he had no case to answer in relation to misconduct. Information about this matter and our review of it has been shared with the IOPC.
2021 (Herts)
In July 2021, Carrick was arrested by Hertfordshire Constabulary following an allegation of rape. The victim ultimately decided not to proceed and in August it was decided that no further action would be taken. The victim was later spoken to again as part of the current investigation and the offences she disclosed are among those Carrick has pleaded guilty to at court.
The 2021 matter was referred to the Met at the time and Carrick was placed on restricted duties.
When the criminal allegation was not proceeded with, it was determined that he had no case to answer in relation to any misconduct matters and in September the restrictions were lifted albeit Carrick never returned to full duties. Information about this matter and our review of it has been shared with the IOPC.
Were these incidents to have occurred today, we are more confident that they would have been identified as forming a pattern of behaviour requiring further investigation even in the event that individual allegations had been withdrawn.
Cases where no further action is taken in relation to criminal allegations are now more likely to be further interrogated to identify any underlying concerns.
We have a dedicated team of officers who make up the Domestic Abuse and Sexual Offences Unit in our Directorate of Professional Standards who are taking allegations forward, supporting victims and ensuring we build evidence against officers where we believe they have a case to answer.
Vetting:
Carrick was vetted on joining the Met in 2001 and again in 2017. On both occasions his vetting was successful, but we know the vetting requirements (the types of checks undertaken) were not as robust for either of these clearances as they are now.
He should have been re-vetted after ten years of service. Delays in re-vetting of officers have previously been identified as an area that the Met needs to improve and significant improvements have already been made.
The Met’s approach to vetting has changed significantly in recent years and is now far more robust. We are confident that someone applying to join the Met today with the same pre-employment history would not receive vetting clearance.
A review of Carrick’s case has also determined that were he to have been re-vetted following his arrest in 2021 according to the processes in place today, he would not have received vetting clearance.
It is now the case that if an officer or staff member is arrested or is being investigated for a serious offence, consideration is given to a full review of that individual’s circumstances including the possibility that re-vetting would be required.
This is a change from the approach that was in place in 2021 when such an arrest did not always result in consideration of a vetting review.
Vetting is one of the focuses of ongoing reviews and any learning identified in this case will be fed into those pieces of work.
![PRESS RELEASE : Detectives renew appeal for photos and video of Brixton Academy crush [December 2022]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/metpolice-150x150.jpeg)
The press release issued by the Met Police on 30 December 2022.
Detectives investigating the crushing incident at the O2 Brixton Academy continue to appeal for anyone with information, photos or video footage to come forward.
Two people have died and a third remains in a critical condition in hospital following the incident that took place on the evening of Thursday, 15 December.
Officers were first called to the venue at 21:04hrs following reports that a large crowd had gathered outside, the first crew arrived on scene soon after.
A further call was made at 21:35hrs reporting that people were attempting to force entry into the venue.
A number of people sustained serious injuries and were treated at the scene by staff, officers and London Ambulance Service paramedics.
Two of those who were most seriously injured, 33-year-old Rebecca Ikumelo and 23-year-old Gaby Hutchinson, died at hospital in the days that followed. A 21-year-old woman remains in a critical condition.
Detective Superintendent Dave Kennett, from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said: “A team of detectives with expertise in complex investigations is working to establish exactly what happened before and during this incident.
“We know there were thousands of people in and around the venue. Many of them will have seen what happened and some may have been caught up in the crush themselves.
“What they have to tell us is really important and we are urging them to come forward.
“As part of the investigation we are carrying out a comprehensive analysis of any available CCTV footage. However we are also very keen to obtain and view any other footage filmed on the night.
“We know from some videos shared on social media immediately after the incident that there were many people caught up in the crowds outside, in the entrances and in the atrium of the venue. Some of those people had their phones out and were likely filming or taking photos.
“That footage or those images could include detail that will help us to better piece together exactly what took place and why. Two people have died and a third is still very seriously injured and we owe it to them, their families and anyone else affected by this incident to do leave no stone unturned.”
There are a number of options for providing information to assist investigating officers:
Call police the police non-emergency number on 101, providing the reference 6725/15DEC.
The press release issued by the Met Police on 12 December 2022.
We are aware of media reports relating to an upcoming television programme in which a female reporter is followed and harassed in the Leicester Square area of London. The programme will also feature footage filmed in Liverpool.
Ch Supt Owain Richards of the Met’s Central West Command Unit said:“Tackling all forms of violence against women, including sexual assault, stalking and harassment, is a priority for the Met.
“We always seek to balance the needs of any victim with wider public protection. We were not approached by the programme makers, but in order to ensure we can identify any potential offenders at an early stage, we have written to them jointly with Merseyside Police asking that they share any material that may assist police.
“Any evidence of potential crimes will be assessed, and we will also consider the wider intelligence and policing picture.
“Every woman should feel safe, and we remain committed to doing everything possible to ensure that this is the case. We are supporting the Mayor of London’s refreshed strategy which champions a public health approach to ending violence against women and girls, and places a stronger emphasis on partnership working, prevention and education across a wide range of services in London.
“This includes Met support for the Mayor’s Women’s Night Safety Charter as well as other initiatives such as ‘Ask for Angela’ to help keep people safe while enjoying a night out.
“Across London, the Met has recently deployed hundreds of extra officers in town centres and high streets to reduce crime and increase confidence through greater police visibility, including for women and girls.
“We also run operations involving officers in uniform and plain clothes in order to make busy areas hostile places for offenders, including those showing predatory behaviour towards women. This tactic is designed to prevent assaults and protect anyone who is vulnerable.”
Throughout the festive period, there will be an enhanced police presence, especially in areas such as the West End. Anyone who feels they are being harassed or in danger should approach an officer so appropriate action can be taken, or speak with staff or security personnel in and around bars and clubs.
The press release issued by the Met Police on 9 December 2022.
One serving officer has been dismissed without notice and three former officers would have been dismissed had they been in post following their membership of a WhatsApp group.
On Friday, 9 December, a misconduct panel found that former PC Joel Borders and former PC Jonathon Cobban, previously attached to West Area Command Unit, former PC William Neville, previously attached to the South West Command Unit, and serving PC Gary Bailey, attached to Central North Command Unit, breached police standards of professional behaviour of discreditable conduct; authority, respect and courtesy; challenging and reporting improper conduct; and equality and diversity.
The panel had heard that in excess of 6,000 messages had been shared in a WhatsApp group in 2019, over 400 of which were inappropriate, many of which were shockingly offensive and none of which were reported by any officer.
Commander Jon Savell, from the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards, said: “Anyone with a shred of decency would struggle to read this disgusting language, let alone send it in a message. These words could not be regarded as acceptable by any stretch of the imagination, and these officers should be ashamed.
“These messages demonstrate attitudes that have absolutely no place in the Met, and it is right that these officers have been dismissed, or would have been dismissed had they not left already.
“We wholeheartedly apologise to all who have been hurt by their disgraceful words and behaviour. They have failed Londoners, communities, and the vastly dedicated, decent majority of the Met. I know colleagues from Norfolk and the Civil Nuclear Constabulary will be as appalled as I am.
“These officers – and those who share their views – don’t belong in the Met and we are working to reform. We have increased the size of our anti-corruption command, are appealing to the public to report rogue officers, and have boosted the size of our professional standards unit.
“Reform will take time but we are committed to driving out officers who should not be in the job, restoring trust in the service, and providing the excellent service that Londoners expect.”
The panel heard highly offensive and prejudiced comments were made about a number of communities and individuals, with only one officer challenging a single comment in the entire chain of messages.
They mocked victims of crime and showed disdain for various areas of London which are home to a variety of cultures. The officers made light of serious crimes, made sexualised comments about colleagues, and included racial abuse about a colleague.
James Berry, counsel for the Commissioner and the two Chief Constables opened the case by telling the panel: “The messages exchanged in that group are, in the submission of the Commissioner and both Chief Constables, an abomination. They were a disgrace in 2019 and they are a disgrace today. They were wholly inappropriate in any workplace context, but certainly in the police service of 2019. They bring deep shame on the police service. The process of repairing the damage to public confidence in policing caused by these six officers’ conduct includes the bringing of these proceedings.”
It was alleged that former PC Joel Borders, former PC Jonathon Cobban, former PC William Neville, and serving PC Gary Bailey each:
The officers and former officers will now be added to the Barred List held by the College of Policing. Those appearing on the list cannot be employed by police, local policing bodies (PCCs), the Independent Office for Police Conduct or Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services.
As a result of the Independent Office for Police Conduct investigation, former PC Borders, former PC Cobban and former PC Neville were charged with offences of improperly using a public electronic communications network contrary to section 127(1) of the Communications Act 2003.
They stood trial at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. On 21 September Borders and Cobban were convicted and Neville was acquitted.
Cobban, 35, was found guilty of three counts of sending grossly offensive messages on a public communications network contrary to S127 of the Communications Act 2003.
Borders, 46, was found guilty of five counts of sending grossly offensive messages on a public communications network contrary to S127 of the Communications Act 2003.
—
The officers’ misconduct cases were heard jointly and together with the cases of PC Matthew Forster (Civil Nuclear Constabulary) and former PC Daniel Comfort (Norfolk Constabulary) both of whose conduct was also found to amount to gross misconduct. PC Forster was dismissed without notice and former PC Comfort would have been dismissed had he been in post.
PC Forster had served in the MPS between 2019 and 2020, and former PC Comfort had served in the Met between 2019 and 2021.
The press release issued by the Met Police on 8 December 2022.
A police officer who falsified a training document to secure access to the Police National Computer (PNC) system has been dismissed without notice.
PC Akim Chartier, formally attached to the North West Basic Command Unit, appeared at an accelerated misconduct hearing on Wednesday, 7 December, to answer allegations he had breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour in relation to Discreditable Conduct and Honesty and Integrity.
The chair of the hearing, Assistant Commissioner Barbara Gray heard on 10 March 2021, PC Chartier enrolled on and completed a PNC training package.
Having failed to attain the required pass mark of 80 per cent on the first attempt, he retook the course that same day and again failed to reach the required standard.
It was alleged that he amended his certificate to reflect that he had scored 80 per cent on the exam which he knew to be untrue. His conduct was discovered when another officer noticed a discrepancy with the score on his certificate.
PC Chartier admitted that he had amended his certificate during an investigation conducted by officers from the Directorate of Professional Standards.
After considering all the evidence, Assistant Commissioner Barbara Gray found the allegations proven in respect of Discreditable Conduct and Integrity only. PC Chartier was dismissed without notice.
PC Chartier will now be added to the Barred List held by the College of Policing. Those appearing on the list cannot be employed by police, local policing bodies (PCCs), the Independent Office for Police Conduct or Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services.
The press release issued by the Met Police on 3 December 2022.
The Metropolitan Police, along with other emergency services and statutory partners, has carried out a major live-play exercise this week to test the joint response to a major terrorist incident.
The multi-agency exercise – called Exercise Crystal Peak – took place over two days and involved more than 200 people including emergency responders from blue-light services, specialist counter terrorism (CT) officers, partners from the London Resilience Forum, as well as volunteers playing the role of casualties.
The exercise was not carried out in response to any specific threat or intelligence, but forms part of our regular CT testing and exercising programme.
The exercise scenario involved an improvised explosive device detonating and injuring large numbers of people as they attended a fictional music concert at a stadium venue.
Commander Ade Adelekan said: “Whilst the exercise was not designed with any specific threat in mind, sadly, previous attacks such as those we’ve seen in Manchester and Paris show that this kind of scenario at a busy entertainment venue is a real possibility.
“Exercises like this test how our blue-light services respond to this type of incident, ensure the plans we have in place are fit for purpose, and identify where we might improve. They also give our officers and staff invaluable experience to respond in a live-play scenario under pressure with real sights, sounds and smells, so that they are in the best position to respond effectively should the worst ever happen for real.”
The exercise scenario began on Saturday, 26 November and took place at a disused terminal building at Heathrow airport. The scenario itself was not related to the aviation setting, but the venue had been used for previous counter terrorism exercises and using it for this particular exercise allowed the emergency services the space and control to respond in as realistic a way as possible, without causing disruption to the public.
Among the specialist police units that were taking part in the exercise were armed officers, explosives ‘EOD’ officers, dogs, and forensic teams. Officers from the British Transport Police and the City of London Police also took part. They were joined by responders from the London Ambulance Service and the London Fire Brigade, who supported the search, rescue, casualty management and recovery responses at the scene.
Day two of the exercise took place on Wednesday 30 November and focused on the strategic coordination between the various agencies involved as the scenario moved from the immediate response phase, to the longer-term recovery phase.
Over the course of the exercise, functions including command and control, intelligence, firearms response, communications, and disaster victim identification were tested.
The exercise is the first major live-play exercise carried out by the Met since March 2022 when Lord Harris published his second report looking at London’s preparedness to respond to a terrorist attack. The report identified that significant progress had been made since the initial report in 2016, with further recommendations identified which are now subject to consideration and implementation.
Commander Adelekan added: “The overall terrorism threat level in the UK remains at ‘substantial’. We know that we cannot afford to let up in our efforts to prevent or thwart terrorist attacks, and equally, to be fully prepared to respond should one happen. I am extremely grateful for the support Heathrow airport has given us by once again, allowing the use of their building.
“This work is vitally important for all of us, including the public, who have a really important role to play by remaining vigilant. Please do get in touch if you see or hear anything that doesn’t feel right. You won’t ruin anybody’s life by doing so, but you could just help save lives.”
The press release issued by the Met Police on 2 December 2022.
Two teenagers who tried to steal a judge’s £15,000 high performance motorbike from the grounds of Snaresbrook Crown Court have been sentenced.
[A] Shay Hollis, 18 (30.03.04), of Harrow Drive, Enfield and [B] Deon-Dre Rogers-Barrett, 19 (20.06.03), of Ashdown Road, Enfield appeared at Wood Green Crown Court on Friday, 2 December.
Rogers-Barrett was sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment suspended for 18 months. He was ordered to complete 25 days rehabilitation activity and was given a three month curfew monitored by electronic tag. He was also ordered to pay £500 compensation to the victim. He had previously pleaded guilty to robbery and not guilty to affray.
Hollis was sentenced to an 18 month supervision order. He was ordered to carry out 12 hours of unpaid work and to pay £500 compensation to the victim. He had previously pleaded guilty to robbery, criminal damage, threatening a person in a public place with an offensive weapon and affray.
The audacious incident unfolded at 14:10hrs on 16 April 2021, when Hollis and Rogers-Barrett, accompanied by a third unidentified suspect, rode into the grounds of Snaresbrook Crown Court on two mopeds.
They come across the motorcycle, a BMW R 1250GS Adventure TE Rallye worth £15,000, and quickly began trying to steal it.
They were challenged by a member of security, at which point Hollis produced a machete and threatened him. Fearing he’d be seriously injured, the guard fled inside the building and the pair began pushing the motorcycle away from the courthouse.
However they found they were trapped inside the grounds after security staff shut the gates.
They then dumped the motorcycle, causing several thousand pounds worth of damage, and discarded their own mopeds, helmets, angle grinder and the machete, before climbing over fencing and fleeing on foot.
Police were called and responded immediately. An area search was conducted but the suspects could not be found.
The discarded items were seized, forensically examined, and an investigation was quickly started by officers from the Met’s Operation Venice. One of the discarded mopeds was found to be registered and insured to Rogers-Barrett, while the other items were forensically linked to him and Hollis following specialist analysis.
Both were arrested on 27 May 2021.
Rogers-Barrett had called police 90 minutes after the robbery to falsely report that he was robbed at knife point of his own moped and mobile phone before the robbery at Snaresbrook. Investigators proved this didn’t happen by reviewing CCTV from the falsely reported robbery location and recovering the same phone he reported stolen from his home address upon arrest.
He denied knowing Hollis at all in interview but officers were able to retrieve images of Hollis from his mobile phone.
Distinctive clothing worn by Hollis during the offence was found following a search of his home address.
Both were charged and remanded in custody.
The third suspect has not been identified.
PC Ian Croxford, from the Met’s Operation Venice, said: “This is a fine example of good police work from our team, using skills and resources from across the MPS to bring two offenders to justice.
“They were intent on stealing a valuable motorcycle in an attempt that can only be described as brazen and audacious. To ride into the grounds of a Crown Court and try this shows a flagrant disregard for the law.
“That the brave security staff who challenged them were threatened with a machete shows they were not afraid to use violence to get what they wanted.
“This should serve as a warning to anyone concerned in serious criminality that we will investigate and will use every tool at our disposal to bring you to justice.”
The press release issued by the Met Police on 2 December 2022.
Ravjeet Gupta, Chair of the Met Police Sikh Association, which marked its 25th anniversary this week, talks about the role his faith plays in keeping London safe.
“Twenty-five years ago, enveloped by the warmth and tandoori aromas inside London’s oldest Punjab restaurant, a small group of Sikh police officers and staff , passionate about their faith, community and fighting crime, founded the Met Police Sikh Association (MPSA).
“The association would be a support network for the ever-growing number of Sikhs joining ‘the job’. Its members would help make the Met more Sikhi-savvy and better qualified to serve the capital’s Sikh community, which today totals more than 125,000 people.
“When the MPSA was formed, it had been only 27 years since the then Home Secretary James Callaghan approved Sikh police officers wearing the Dastar – or turban – on duty.
“Met Special Constable Harbans Singh Jabbal was the first to go on patrol in a turban, less than a year later. That was a landmark moment – an acknowledgement of and respect for the diversity of the people within the uniform and the people they, and every other police officer in London, were there to protect.
“Having the option to wear a Dastar ‘on the beat’ is exceptionally important to Sikh police officers – the turban is a constant reminder of God’s presence and the high moral standards he expects of us. High standards which should be in the forefront of every police officer’s mind, irrespective of faith.
“Fellow Sikhs will recognise many core values in our faith that mirror those we should hold to in policing, not least of all seva, the principle of protecting others and giving back to the community. We also value equality and acceptance of all, irrespective of faith, rank or who is the police officer in a situation.
“Speaking to other Sikhs every day, I know many are rightly troubled that some officers haven’t upheld these values. In 2022, seeing a police officer in a Dastar is not enough to bridge the divide this kind of betrayal of trust creates – a divide that if not addressed will see fewer people turn to the police for help, to assist us or to choose us as an employer.
“The MPSA supports the Commissioner in his drive to achieve more trust, less crime and high standards. We share his determination that this will be done – and can only be done – by connecting better with communities.
“This week, to mark 25 years of the MPSA and more than 50 years of Sikhs in the Met, we invited Sikh Londoners to New Scotland Yard to meet senior officers and some of the 650 MPSA members helping keep people safe in really varied roles such as counter terrorism investigations, local policing and victim care.
“We were delighted to be played devotional music by talented children from the Atam Academy in Redbridge and surrounded by the vibrant and thought-provoking artwork of local Sikh artists.
“It was a celebration of Sikh culture inside and outside the Met and also a moment to have candid conversations about crime and policing. It was an opportunity to reflect on how far the Met and the Sikh community in London has come, but how much further we could and should go.
“In Sikhi, we believe in one creator who exists in all of us, who is free of gender, religion, nationality or sexual orientation. We aim to connect that ‘one’ inside us all, in order to protect and serve everyone.
“You don’t have to be Sikh to value the notion of everyone uniting to help the community; and any one of us – police officer or member of public – can start the conversations that will help create change.”
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A brief history of Sikhs in the Met:
April 1969: The Home Secretary, James Callaghan, authorises Sikh police officers to wear their ‘dastaars’ – turbans – on duty. Wearing a dastaar is crucial to baptised Sikhs, who wear it as a reminder of their values.
July 1969: Piarra Singh Kenth becomes the first Sikh Met Police Constable. PC Singh Kenth was a police officer in his home country of Kenya before coming to the UK in 1969 to continue his crime fighting career in Ealing and Southall.
January 1970: Met Special Constable Harbans Singh Jabbal goes on patrol in East Ham wearing a turban with his police badge pinned to it. He is the first Sikh to wear a turban on patrol in the UK.
February 1971: Karpal Kaur Sandhu becomes the first female Sikh and female Asian police officer in the Met and the UK. WPC Sandhu moved from Zanzibar to Britain in 1962 and was a nurse first before joining the Met, where she worked in Hornsey, Walthamstow and Leyton.
February 1997: The Met Police Sikh Association is founded in Punjab restaurant, Covent Garden. It is the first Sikh police staff association in the UK.
December 2022: The MPSA marks 25 years of supporting and working with Sikhs inside and outside the Met.
The MPSA is one of many staff associations in the Met representing diversity in faith, gender, sexuality, ethnicity and disability. They share the vision to make London safer by respecting the individuals who visit, live and work in it.