Ex-PC Darren Hourigan Jailed for Child Porn Possession
Former police constable Darren Hourigan, 51, has been sentenced to 10 months behind bars for possessing indecent images of children. The disgraced officer, once attached to the South Area Command Unit, was sentenced at Kingston Crown Court on Friday, 7 July.
Guilty Plea and Resignation
Hourigan pled guilty at the same court back in April, admitting the horrific charges. He resigned from the Metropolitan Police Service on 26 April 2023, shortly after his admission.
Met Police Take a Firm Stand
Chief Superintendent Andy Brittain, head of policing in South Area, slammed Hourigan’s actions. He said:
“We have made it clear that the Met will take action against any of its staff who are not fit to remain within the organisation.
We are committed to providing Londoners with a Met that they deserve; one that upholds the law on the streets of the capital and amongst its own ranks. The vast majority of the thousands of police officers and staff are striving to take this forward – those who won’t are not worthy to remain.”
Investigation and Disciplinary Action
The Met’s Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse team, backed by the Directorate of Professional Standards, launched the investigation that led to Hourigan’s arrest in March 2020. He was charged by post on 21 September 2022 and made court appearances leading up to this sentencing.
An accelerated misconduct hearing on 12 June found Hourigan guilty of gross misconduct related to discreditable conduct. Assistant Commissioner Barbara Gray confirmed that if Hourigan had remained a serving officer, he would have faced immediate dismissal without notice.
