Serious questions have been raised about police transparency after the City of London Police heavily redacted a report detailing alleged crimes committed by PC Ryan Gadsden, a serving officer from Harold Hill. Despite being accused in 2020 of stalking an ex-partner, PC Gadsden remained employed by the Metropolitan Police Service until his arrest in 2023 for allegedly grooming police recruits. He later took his own life, ending the criminal investigation into his conduct.
The official report on PC Gadsden’s case, produced by the City of London Police, was recently released under the Freedom of Information Act. However, large sections of the report were blacked out, including details previously revealed in open court. Among the reasons cited for the redactions was the potential distress to PC Gadsden’s friends and family if the information was made public.
The redactions have sparked criticism from women’s rights advocates. Jamie Klingler, co-founder of Reclaim These Streets, expressed frustration over what she sees as yet another example of police avoiding transparency regarding officers accused of misconduct. “Time and again, excuses are made that prevent the Met from being accountable for the danger they put women in,” she said. Klingler added that the lack of transparency “continues the charade that the Met is there to protect and serve the women of London without fear or favour.”
Criminal Allegations Against PC Gadsden
PC Ryan Gadsden, 23, of Hailsham Road in Harold Hill, Romford, was arrested in May 2023 on suspicion of misconduct in a public office following allegations that he had groomed young police cadets. He was suspended from duty, and further allegations surfaced in August 2023. Tragically, he took his own life in September 2023, which brought an end to the criminal investigation.
An inquiry into the case remains ongoing by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). The City of London Police also reviewed the case, focusing on whether the Met properly safeguarded PC Gadsden’s welfare. The resulting report, which was presented as evidence at his inquest in May 2024, contained details of the criminal allegations, including a previous stalking complaint in 2020.
Fight for Transparency
When asked to publish the report under the Freedom of Information Act, the City of London Police responded three months later with vast sections of the report redacted. Almost all of the unredacted portions referred to police policies rather than details of the case. The force argued that only a handful of newspapers had reported on the case, indicating that the public interest in transparency was “limited.”
The police also claimed that releasing the details could be unfair to PC Gadsden’s accusers, despite their support for a criminal prosecution that would have seen his alleged offences made public in court. The force further justified the redactions by citing potential damage to the mental health of PC Gadsden’s loved ones.
In response, the newspaper that made the Freedom of Information request has submitted an appeal, demanding that the full report be made public.
Reaction to the Cover-Up
Andrea Simon, executive director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW), condemned the lack of transparency. “For too long, the issue of police officers perpetuating male violence against women has not been taken seriously when victims or whistleblowers come forward, and officers have not faced any meaningful consequences,” Simon said. She emphasized the need for the police to be held to the highest standards of conduct, given their power and authority over the public.
“The culture of policing must shift away from ‘protecting our own’ towards one of transparency, accountability, and trust,” Simon added.
The Metropolitan Police has refused to comment on the specific allegations against PC Gadsden or why the case was referred to the IOPC, despite repeated requests for information. The force’s reluctance to provide answers has drawn further criticism, especially in light of its promise for greater transparency under the New Met for London plan, introduced after the murder of Sarah Everard by serving Met officer Wayne Couzens.
Ongoing Investigation
The IOPC has stated that its investigation into the case is still ongoing, with no final report yet available. City of London Police, meanwhile, has said that it will aim to rule on the appeal regarding the redactions by September 12.
As the inquiry continues, many are left questioning how PC Gadsden’s alleged misconduct went undetected for so long and what more could have been done to protect the public.
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