A Metropolitan Police officer has pleaded guilty to three counts of possession of indecent images of children.
PC Darren Hourigan, 51, who is attached to the South Area Command Unit, appeared at Kingston Crown Court on Wednesday, 26 April where he pleaded guilty.
He will be sentenced at the same court on Friday, 7 July.
Chief Superintendent Andy Brittain, who is in charge of policing in South Area, 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, and we will now prepare for a misconduct hearing.
“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.”
The charges follow an investigation by the Met’s Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse team supported by the Directorate of Professional Standards which led to Hourigan’s arrest in March 2020.
He was charged by post on 21 September 2022 and appeared at Kingston Crown Court on 14 November 2022, where he was bailed ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing.
PC Hourigan was suspended prior to being charged.
Misconduct proceedings will commence in due course.
