Police Redact Report on Officer Accused of Grooming and Stalking
Serious questions swirl around police transparency after the City of London Police heavily censored a report on PC Ryan Gadsden, a Metropolitan officer accused of multiple crimes. Despite stalking allegations from 2020, Gadsden stayed on the job until his 2023 arrest for allegedly grooming police recruits. His tragic suicide later halted the criminal probe into his conduct.
Criminal Allegations and Cover-Up Claims
PC Ryan Gadsden, 23, from Harold Hill, Romford, was arrested in May 2023 on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The charges included grooming young police cadets. More accusations emerged in August, but the investigation ended when Gadsden took his own life in September 2023.
The City of London Police released an official report under the Freedom of Information Act, but large chunks were blacked out — including details already public in court. The force claimed redactions were needed to spare distress to Gadsden’s family and friends.
Outrage from Advocates Demanding Transparency
Women’s rights campaigners slammed the blackouts. Jamie Klingler, co-founder of Reclaim These Streets, said: “Time and again, excuses are made that prevent the Met from being accountable for the danger they put women in.” She blasted the move as a “charade” that lets police avoid scrutiny and falsely protect London’s women.
Andrea Simon, head of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, added: “For too long, police officers committing male violence have faced no meaningful consequences. The culture must shift from protecting ‘our own’ to transparency, accountability, and trust.”
Still Waiting on Answers as Inquiry Drags On
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) continues its investigation into the case, with no final report yet. The City of London Police plans to decide on the appeal over redactions by September 12.
The Metropolitan Police have stayed tight-lipped on why the allegations against Gadsden were referred to the IOPC or specifics of the case, despite promises of greater openness following the murder of Sarah Everard by a serving Met officer.
The troubling saga raises urgent questions: How did Gadsden’s alleged misconduct slip under the radar for so long? What more could have been done to protect the public from him?
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