A former Metropolitan Police officer who pleaded guilty to three counts of possession of indecent images of children has been sentenced.
Former PC Darren Hourigan, 51, who was attached to the South Area Command Unit, appeared at Kingston Crown Court on Friday, 7 July where he was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment [suspended for 18 months] for possession of indecent images of children.
He had previously appeared at the same court on Wednesday, 26 April where he pleaded guilty.
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.
“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 resigned from the MPS on 26 April 2023.
An accelerated misconduct hearing was held on Monday, 12 June for the former PC to answer for breaching the standards of professional behaviour in regards to discreditable conduct.
The Chair of the hearing, Assistant Commissioner Barbara Gray, found the allegations proven at the level of gross misconduct and as a result, former PC Hourigan, had he still been a serving officer, would have been dismissed without notice.
+ Former PC Hourigan will now be added to the Barred List held by the College of Policing. He cannot be employed by police, local policing bodies (PCCs), the Independent Office for Police Conduct or Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services.
