Paedophile former police officer granted anonymity over health concerns

The former City of London Police officer was sentenced after indecent images of children were found on their phone

A paedophile former City of London Police officer has been granted anonymity by the force due to concerns about their “health and wellbeing”.

Referred to as Former Officer A in police documents, the individual was arrested in February 2024 after indecent images of children were discovered on their mobile phone. They pleaded guilty in court that September, and on May 8, 2025 were sentenced to a Community Rehabilitation Order and required to sign the Sex Offenders Register for five years.

While the former officer resigned from the City of London Police in 2024, a misconduct hearing was held on March 11. Convened by Commissioner Peter O’Doherty, the panel found that the former officer’s actions amounted to gross misconduct and they were barred from serving as a police officer again.

The Commissioner’s report however notes that a decision was made to grant Former Officer A anonymity was based on Police Conduct Regulation, Regulation 39, which allows the force to “give such directions as they think appropriate prohibiting the publication of any matter relating to the proceedings”.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) queried this position, though was told by a City of London Police spokesperson: “A development in the former officer’s health and wellbeing was presented by legal representation. Following careful consideration, the Chair took the decision to grant anonymity based on Police Conduct Regulation, Reg 39.”

The LDRS subsequently requested an internal review, highlighting the public interest in the former officer being named.

In response the spokesperson said: “The former officer’s legal representation applied for anonymity. The Chair carefully considered the application and granted it based on Police Conduct Regulations. The process has now concluded.”

In his report detailing the misconduct hearing, Commissioner O’Doherty wrote the former officer had failed “to protect the safety of the most vulnerable of society, who are the very people that we are here to protect, thereby damaging the legitimacy of the City of London Police”.

He added that though some mitigation was considered, including the fact a guilty plea was entered, the conviction “fundamentally” undermines the public’s trust and confidence.

“Although the officer has since resigned from the police service, having considered all of the circumstances, I am satisfied that the conduct amounts to gross misconduct,” Commissioner O’Doherty wrote.

“The seriousness of the offence and the resulting criminal conviction would make continued service as a police officer untenable. In order to maintain public confidence and uphold the integrity of the police service, the appropriate and proportionate outcome would have been dismissal without notice. I therefore find that the officer would have been dismissed and direct that their details be placed on the barred list.”

Chief Superintendent Sanjay Andersen, Head of Professionalism and Trust, City of London Police, said the nature of the crime “has no place in society”, and that the force’s thoughts are with the victims of abuse.

She continued: “Our police officers and staff work tirelessly to uphold the professional standards we expect. The officer pleaded guilty to crimes that fall far below those expectations.

“The officer was suspended immediately when we were notified of the arrest. Following the outcome of the accelerated misconduct hearing, the former officer will be placed on the barred list. The officer resigned from the force in 2024. The criminal investigation was carried out and brought to court by the Metropolitan Police Service.”

Their inclusion on the barred list means they are unable to re-join or take a role with any other policing body. They can apply to be removed from the list in five years’ time.

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