Sussex Police sends 'deepest sympathies' after officer killed in Croydon

Sussex Police has sent its 'thoughts and deepest sympathies' to the family and colleagues of an officer killed in Croydon this morning (September 25).
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A murder investigation was launched, according to the Metropolitan Police, after an officer was shot by a man who had been detained in Croydon Custody Centre, Windmill Lane.

The officer was treated at the scene after the shooting, which occurred at around 2.15am, but sadly died in hospital.

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A 23-year-old man was arrested at the scene, the Met Police said, before being taken to hospital with a gunshot wound. He remains in critical condition.

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The officer's death has sparked an outpouring of grief across social media, and Sussex Police shared its own condolences on Twitter.

Responding to the Met Police's tragic announcement, the force said: "Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to his family and colleagues following the death of a serving officer in the Met earlier today.

"Our Chief Constable Jo Shiner has personally written to the Commissioner, Cressida Dick, to express our condolences."

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Commissioner Dick described the 'truly shocking incident' as being in the most 'tragic circumstances'.

"When a colleague dies in the line of duty the shockwaves and sadness reverberates throughout the Met and our communities," she said.

"Policing is a family, within London and nationally, and we will all deeply mourn our colleague."

Earlier this month, Sussex Police joined the fire and ambulance services in condemning a rise in violence against emergency workers.

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According to the force, assaults on officers in Sussex rose by nearly 20 per cent in 2019/20 with 628 being recorded. Since 2014/15, recorded assaults have risen by 185 per cent.

In a statement on September 2, Chief Constable Jo Shiner said the trend was 'completely unacceptable'.

""It can't be right that the very people dedicating their lives to saving others are increasingly coming under attack or when people think sharing videos of this is the right course of action," she said.

"For communities to be protected, we must stand together to protect our frontline. Assaults on police, fire and ambulance workers, and indeed other public sector workers doing their job, will simply not be tolerated."

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