Royal Guard Booted After Ammo Blunder at Buckingham Palace
Ammunition Goes Missing on Palace Grounds
Police Constable Stephen Cotgreave, part of the elite Royalty and Specialist Protection (RaSP) team, has been sacked after losing a bullet while on duty at Buckingham Palace. On 6 December 2022, Cotgreave dropped the magazine from his service pistol during his patrol. Though he picked it up and replaced it, one round was found missing when returning the weapon to the armoury.
Cotgreave denied dropping the magazine and had no explanation for the lost ammo. But CCTV footage exposed the truth, showing exactly how the round went missing.
Misconduct Hearing Finds Gross Misconduct
The hearing on 18 November 2024 at London’s Empress State Building slammed Cotgreave for breaching the Standards of Professional Behaviour, citing serious failures in honesty and integrity.
The panel branded his actions as gross misconduct—a charge that led to immediate dismissal. His lies during the investigation were seen as a betrayal of the trust placed in officers safeguarding some of the UK’s most sensitive sites.
Met Police Take a Hard Line
The Metropolitan Police wasted no time in cutting Cotgreave loose, firing him without notice.
A Met spokesperson said:
“The integrity of our officers is paramount, particularly in roles that demand the highest levels of trust and accountability. This outcome reflects the seriousness with which we treat any breaches of honesty and integrity within the organisation.”
This case sends a clear message: any slip-up with security or trust, especially in royal protection roles, will be dealt with severely.
