Ex-Met cop exposed as extremist and child image offender – booted without warning
A former probationary Met police officer has been found guilty of gross misconduct and sacked without notice after being linked to a banned far-right terror group, fraud, and possession of indecent images of children.
Ex-PC Benjamin Hannam’s shocking double life
Benjamin Hannam, once attached to the North Area Basic Command Unit, resigned in March 2021 following a Met Counter Terrorism investigation. He was discovered to have been a member of National Action, a proscribed neo-Nazi terror group, alongside other serious offences.
Six criminal offences topple his police career
Hannam was arrested in March 2020 and, after a trial at the Old Bailey, found guilty of:
- Membership of National Action
- Two counts of fraud by false representation
- Two counts of possession of terrorism-related documents
- Pleading guilty to possessing prohibited child images (unrelated to the terrorism charges)
“He knowingly chose this path,” says Met boss
Met Assistant Commissioner Helen Ball slammed Hannam’s actions at the gross misconduct hearing on April 21, stating:
“PC Hannam knowingly and intentionally stayed a member of a proscribed organisation, lied repeatedly, and kept terrorist and prohibited materials. He had every chance to walk away but didn’t. This behaviour is wholly unacceptable and damages public trust in the Met.”
Fake vetting form sank his chances
When applying to join the Met in July 2017, Hannam denied any links to extremist groups on his application and vetting forms. Had he been truthful, he would never have been accepted.
Though his National Action involvement ended by September 2017, before police training began in March 2018, his past caught up with him. On April 1, 2024, he was convicted of all charges, sealing his downfall.
This disgraceful episode highlights the urgent need for thorough vetting to keep extremists out of UK policing.
