Allegations

Warning: this article may contain distressing content for some readers

Senior Met Police Officer, Chief Inspector Richard Watkinson, serving with the West Area command unit at the time, was found dead at his home in Buckinghamshire on Thursday 12th of January.

At the time, the officer was suspended from duty and being investigated for allegedly distributing indecent images of children, voyeurism, and misconduct in public office.

According to a Met Police spokeswoman, “A serving officer (Watkinson) was arrested on 9th July 2021 by the Independent Office for Police Conduct and the matter passed back to be investigated by specialist officers from the Met…The officer was further arrested on 20th July 2022 on suspicion of offences (listed above)”. However, he was then bailed pending further inquiries, and that’s how he was suspended from duty.

The body was found by Met officers in his home in Buckinghamshire following welfare concerns, the same day he was due to be charged. The Thames Valley Police are dealing with this matter, although the death has not been ruled as suspicious.

As of January 2023, 800 Met Police officers are under investigation for possible misconduct, including allegations of sexual and domestic violence, and more than 230 officers face sexual assault allegations. This raises concerns about the culture of the Met and the thoroughness of its vetting process – for a system meant to protect us, it seems that too many officers are doing the exact opposite.