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A serving officer with the Metropolitan Police has appeared in court charged with a serious firearms offence following a police investigation in South London.
PC Andrew Bates, 59, who is attached to the Met’s Specialist Operations unit, appeared in custody at Croydon Magistrates’ Court today (Wednesday) charged with possession of a firearm contrary to Section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968.
The charge follows a search carried out by officers at a property in Croydon on Monday, 7 July, where the alleged weapon was recovered. Police have confirmed the alleged offence does not relate to police-issued firearms, and PC Bates is not a firearms officer.
The officer has been remanded in custody and is next due to appear at Croydon Crown Court on Wednesday, 6 August.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police confirmed the force’s Directorate of Professional Standards is aware of the charge and that PC Bates has been suspended from duty pending the outcome of criminal proceedings.
A Met spokesperson said:
“We can confirm that a serving officer has been charged with a firearms offence. The Met’s Professional Standards team has been informed and the officer has been suspended. The charge does not relate to a police-issued weapon and the officer is not a firearms officer.”
No further details have been released at this stage due to the ongoing legal process.
