What we know about the Croydon police station shooting so far as investigations continue
Sergeant Matiu Ratana, 54, was less than two years from retirement.
The police officer who was shot dead by a handcuffed suspect at a south London custody suite was less than two years from retirement.
Sergeant Matiu Ratana, 54, was shot in the chest at Croydon Custody Centre as officers prepared to search the 23-year-old man who then turned the revolver on himself at around 2.15am on Friday.
The 54-year-old, known as Matt to his family and friends, is the first officer to be killed by a suspect inside a police station.
No police firearms were fired and the case is not being treated as terror-related.
The suspect was not regarded as a subject of interest by security services, but reports suggest he may have previously been referred to the anti-extremism Prevent programme.
Here’s what we know about what happened:
How did the incident unfold?
The 23-year-old suspect was arrested by patrolling officers for possession of ammunition and possession of class B drugs with intent to supply.
After a stop and search in Pollards Hill, south London, he was taken to the custody centre while handcuffed behind his back.
According to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), he was taken into the building and sat in a holding area in the custody suite, then opened fire while still in the handcuffs as officers prepared to search him with a metal detector.
IOPC regional director Sal Naseem said: ‘It is at that point that shots were fired resulting in the fatal injuries to the officer and critical injuries to the man.
‘A non-police issue firearm, which appears to be a revolver, has been recovered from the scene. Further ballistic work will be required.’
Sgt Ratana was taken to hospital but later died of his injuries.
The suspect was also seriously injured during the incident and is in a critical but stable condition in hospital.
Sgt Ratana is the eighth police officer in the UK to be shot dead in the last 20 years and the first to be murdered by a firearm in the line of duty since PCs Fiona Bone, 32, and Nicola Hughes, 23, in September 2012.
They were murdered by gangster Dale Cregan in a gun and grenade attack while responding to a report of a burglary in Greater Manchester.
How long had Sgt Ratana worked for the Met?
The New Zealand-born officer joined the force in 1991, having moved to the city two years previously, and was the captain of his recruit training class.
Having served more than 28 years with the Met he could have retired after 30.
He served in a variety of roles across London, including in the West End, Hackney and Hillingdon, and moved to a job in Croydon in 2015 where he worked in neighbourhoods, and then later detention.
Outside police work, he was passionate about rugby and at one point played with London Irish, as well as other teams including the Met’s own.
In recent years, he had been head coach at East Grinstead.
A friend said Sgt Ratana had moved to work in custody as he felt it was safer in the lead-up to his retirement.
Neil Donohue told BBC Breakfast: ‘He thought it was his safest option just to see him through to his retirement and no-one expected this to happen – certainly not within the police cells.’
How has he been remembered?
Figures across policing and UK politics have led tributes to the 54-year-old.
Met Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick, who with the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, led police officers across the capital in a minute’s silence on Friday, described Sgt Ratana as a ‘talented police officer’.
He was ‘big in stature, big in heart, friendly, capable, a lovely man and highly respected by his colleagues’, and leaves behind a partner and adult son, Dame Cressida said.
Forensic officers in white suits were seen entering the police station on Friday morning, while floral tributes were left throughout the day.
One friend said the officer was looking forward to retirement: ‘I think he earned his stripes, if you ask me.’
John Davies, a former colleague of Sgt Ratana, described him as a ‘proud Maori’ and added: ‘I’d just like to say that he was a truly remarkable, strong and unique individual.
‘He would have left an impression on all those he came into contact with.’
East Grinstead Rugby Football Club also released a tribute to the ‘much-loved’ coach.
Bob Marsh, the club’s chairman, and Andy Poole, the club’s president, said: ‘Matt was an inspiring and much-loved figure at the club and there are truly no words to describe how we are feeling.
‘We would like to take some time as a club and community to begin to comprehend what has happened.’
Met Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick, who with the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, earlier led police officers across the capital in a minute’s silence, described the officer as a ‘talented police officer’.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson was also among those who reacted to the news, as he tweeted: ‘My deepest condolences go to the family, friends and colleagues of the police officer who was killed in Croydon last night.
‘We owe a huge debt to those who risk their own lives to keep us safe.’
What happens next?
As well as a murder probe launched by Scotland Yard, the IOPC are also investigating the incident.
The IOPC have obtained CCTV from the custody centre as well as body-worn video footage from the officers present.
These will now be reviewed in the coming days, and initial accounts from the officers present will also be taken.
A former Met superintendent said there were questions to be answered about how the shooting occurred.
Leroy Logan told BBC News: ‘How did that person come to be in the station, whether it’s in the yard or the building itself, and be able to produce a weapon, whether it’s on them at the time?’
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