British police probe family home in Cop Killerth

Police raid a family home while investigations continue into the murder of a sergeant who was shot dead in his own detention suite.

Officers have been at the de Zoysa family's home since yesterday after Seargeant Matiu Ratana, 54, was killed in the early hours of the morning.

The property is owned by Channa de Zoysa and his wife Elizabeth, who live there with their sons John and 23-year-old Louis.

The gunman who shot Ratana was stopped by officers on the sidewalk outside a block of flats in south London, MailOnline said.

Another cordon in Anderson Heights, Norbury, was used to take the 23-year-old suspect to the Croydon Custody Center before allegedly shooting Sergeant Ratana behind the back with his hands tied.

A neighbor of the de Zoysas said: “I know the father is Sri Lanka and the mother is British. She works as an interpreter.

& # 39; You have three boys. The police are always there. We don't know what for, but I always see police cars being called. I don't know what's going on in their four walls as they tend to stay to themselves.

“The police have been outside the address since yesterday morning. All we know is that it has to do with the Croydon incident. & # 39;

Another neighbor said, "I saw your Louis stopped and the police searched."

Footage filmed in the early hours of Friday shows the suspect, who is in critical condition tonight, walking towards Streatham on London Road, when he was stopped by a patrol car outside the five-story apartment as unsuspecting motorists drove by.

A fast-reacting vehicle arrived at 1:44 a.m., followed two minutes later by a police car. The suspect is taken to the van at 1:47 a.m.

It is unclear whether he was searched or handcuffed at the scene, but he did not appear to be acting aggressively and appeared to be cooperating with officers.

Minutes later, a third police car arrived to block London Road when the police car left with the suspect at 1:50 a.m. Shortly after the van drove away, three officers began searching a bush and a bush at the edge of the parking lot to the apartment block.

This afternoon officials occupied the high-rise block where a blue Peugeot and a silver Vauxhall Corsa could be seen in the cordon and a stairwell next to the apartments was taped off.

The force confirmed that a weapon had been recovered from the detention suite in which Mr Ratana was shot and two addresses – one in Norbury, London, and one on Park Road, Banstead, Surrey – were the focus of a major police investigation.

Scotland Yard is under increasing pressure to explain how the suspect appeared to have managed to hide the revolver in his pants and then handcuffed fire on the New Zealand veteran officer.

According to sources, the officers were unable to find the suspect's weapon as it was well hidden and could only have been recovered with an intimate strip search and an examination of the body cavities.

A police spokesman said, “We recovered a gun from custody that Matt was shot in and is being forensically examined.

"We have video surveillance of the events in custody and a body-worn video of police officers that is carefully examined by investigators and taken into account alongside the officer’s accounts."

& # 39; The suspect remains in the hospital in critical condition and due to his condition we cannot speak to him.

& # 39; Our homicide investigation will try to find out why Matt was shot. One of my priorities is to make sure that future law enforcement efforts are not compromised. I know this is important to the public as well and I would ask everyone not to speculate. & # 39;

Sergeant Ratana was reportedly shot in the chest five times at close range as he prepared to use a metal detector in a Covid-Screening cell on the handcuffed suspect arrested for possession of Class B ammunition and drugs to browse.

Honors from family members, colleagues and politicians continue to pour in for the rugby-loving "big friendly bear" who was months before his retirement.

Sergeant Ratana was a coach at East Grinstead Rugby Football Club, leaving behind an adult son and partner, Sue Bushby, with whom he lived in Goring, Sussex.

Ms. Bushby's mother, Penelope, said today that her daughter was with Sergeant Ratana for "six wonderful years."

Speaking exclusively to Mail Online, she found that Sue had also lost her father, Roy earlier this year, and that Sergeant Ratana had been a pillar of strength.

The shooter, who was arrested by a special police officer on patrol with two regular officers, is in critical condition with a gunshot wound in the neck from his own weapon.

Scotland Yard has opened an investigation into the suspect, who has been identified as a "potential terrorist threat" and referred to the prevention program aimed at preventing vulnerable people from becoming involved in extremism.

The suspect was arrested on suspicion of possession of Class B ammunition and drugs for the purpose of delivery. It is believed that cannabis resin was found on his person.

They searched the suspect after he behaved strangely before handcuffing him and driving him to the police station.

Sergeant Ratana – who has a 26-year-old son from a previous relationship – was about to search the handcuffed suspect with a metal detector in a Covid screening cell when the man was making a revolver that he stuffed into his pants.

The 23-year-old fired the gun with his hands still handcuffed behind his back and allegedly hit the veteran officer at close range in the heart several times.

In the chaos that followed, the attacker's gun went off again, injuring his neck, but he remains alive in a critical condition. The suspect is believed to be autistic and Sri Lankan in origin, according to The Times.

Sergeant Ratana was flown to the hospital after desperate medics performed open heart surgery on him in the detention center, The Sun reports.

Sergeant Ratana, whose job it was to look after the care and welfare of the detainees, died in hospital.

A native of Hawke & # 39; s Bay, he came to the UK in 1989 and became a guardian for Princess Diana, the Queen Mother and former Prime Minister John Major, reports The Mirror.

And in 1992, the hero officer was less than 300 yards from an IRA car bomb that exploded off 10 Downing Street.

Friend Amanda Tessier, a community nurse whose sister Sue Bushby has had a relationship with the officer for four years, said, "He was a great, kind friend to a man, one of the most beautiful men to meet."

Sergeant Ratana's father has been described by his colleagues as a "real gentleman" and "one of the best," while Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick said he was known as a "big guy" with a "big heart."

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said last night that it was "incredibly sad news" that one of her country's former police officers had died.

Ms. Tessier added: “He was totally committed as a police officer and had almost 30 years of service. He knew the dangers of being a cop in London and he'd talked about it, but for him it was all part of the job. It was something he was trained and used to.

& # 39; He was such a lovely guy. He was a great kind guy. He liked to keep fit and rugby, but he also liked a burger or two. We just can't believe it. How did someone have a gun in the police station?

"I'm sure there will be a major investigation by the Met, but it doesn't seem right at all."

Ms. Tessier said her sister was devastated by the news and being comforted by friends.

She said, “They were together for about four years. In the morning there was a knock on the door. It's just devastating. We can't believe it. He was life and soul, a really fun-loving guy who was fully committed to his work. & # 39;

She said he was a passionate rugby fan who coached players. & # 39; You will be devastated by this. He coached the juniors too, ”she said, and burst into tears. "It's just awful."

Police protocol states that this cannot be done by the roadside and requires approval from a sergeant in a detention center.

The detained man was in a Covid screening cell, which is part of the custody process during the pandemic, when he launched the attack. Two officers pounced on the suspect to stop him.

It came when Sergeant Ratana opened the cell door to search him with a metal detector.

The force has launched an investigation into why the weapon was not found in the search.

Mick Neville – a former detective chief inspector – told The Sun that criminals have been known to attach guns to her thigh or even slide the barrel into intimate areas with only the handle remaining visible. Even the most experienced officer could overlook this.

"The sergeant could have been at greater risk due to Covid-19 proceedings."

Sgt Ratana, known to family and friends as Matt, felt that working in the detention suite was his "safest option" as he neared the end of his long police career, friend Neil Donohue said.

Mr Donohue told BBC Breakfast: "He thought it would be his safest option to only accompany him until he retired, and no one expected it – especially not in the police cells."

Sergeant Ratana is the grandson of Iriaka Ratana, the first Maori MP, and cousin of New Zealand Labor MP Adrian Rurawhe, who told the NZ Herald, “Everyone is really devastated to hear the news they have passed on.

"He was really proud to be a police officer and he was also very proud to be a Maori from New Zealand."

He added to Sky News, “It's really sad that he left too early, but also how he left. The whole family feels devastated. & # 39;

A 1996 magazine printed quotes from the sergeant in which he said, “I have this photo of myself as a child wearing a police helmet.

“One of my uncles sent it over. I don't remember growing up wanting to be a cop. But now that I am I wouldn't change it for anything. & # 39;

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he visited the family to offer condolences. Other accolades on social media said "What a waste", "You will be missed my friend", "So sad what a lovable man" and "Sleep well Maui".

Community leader Donna Murray-Turner described the officer who was shot this morning as "warm, intelligent and funny".

She told MailOnline: “He was a good person. He helped me set up stop-and-search workshops. I'll work with anyone who wants to make a difference, and they were one of those people.

"I just want his family to know that he is loved by them and that he is loved by members of the community."

A friend who lives on the same street as the sergeant said, “Matt was a lovely, lovely man. We are in shock.

& # 39; He was spoken softly and very nice. A wonderful neighbor. And he was so into his rugby. We found out what happened this morning. Very shocking news. & # 39;

Glenn and Debbie Stobart lived with Sergeant Ratana in Coulsdon, south London, for several years before moving to Worthing.

Ms. Stobart, a close friend, said: “He was a fantastic man. He always helped others. If you were concerned about anything, he would answer your concern.

& # 39; He was so caring, funny, everyone knew him. He was a really great character.

He moved into the area the first day, knocked on the door and introduced himself, and everyone got to know him from then on. He loved his job and was a police officer. He was so proud to serve the church.

“He was looking forward to retirement next year but wasn't sure what to do with all the free time and got into rugby even more. He loved helping the children and it gave him a real purpose. & # 39;

Holding back tears as she talked about his killer, she added, “You should throw away the key.

“How could someone get to a police station with a gun? It asks for faith. & # 39;

Sergeant Ratana is the tenth police officer killed on duty in the past decade. The last one was Andrew Harper in Berkshire in August 2019.

PC Harper's widow Lissie Harper said it was "extremely devastating," adding, "What is happening to our world?"

Friday's incident marks the first time in eight years that a British police officer was shot dead on duty after Dale Cregan killed Greater Manchester police officers Nicola Hughes and Fiona Bone in September 2012.

Scotland Yard has not yet confirmed whether he was on the anti-terrorist police radar following the claims made by BBC News.

However, it is believed that he was referred to the prevention program. The program is a government-run, multi-agency program involving the Home Office, counter-terrorism police and other agencies to prevent vulnerable people from becoming involved in extremism.

He was identified through possible links to right-wing extremism and Islamic extremism, but nothing was found to warrant a counter-terrorism investigation.

Shocked and tearful colleagues laid flowers throughout the day, and eleven police officers marched to the detention center once to leave flower tributes with a poem.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “My deepest condolences go to the family, friends and colleagues of the officer who was killed in Croydon last night. We owe a great debt to those who risk their own lives to protect us. & # 39;

Scotland Yard said no police rifles had been fired and they informed the officer's relatives and assisted them with special officers.

A number of police colleagues changed their social media profile pictures to black with a blue line as a sign of respect for the officer who had been with the police for nearly 30 years

His former girlfriend, Claudia Lynn, who lived with the officer for six years, said he was from New Zealand and started a career in the police force. She said they split four years ago after meeting in 2010. She is a former special police officer.

She said, “We moved here from London together, where we lived then. I was out of contact with him, but I had seen him occasionally. & # 39;

Police Officer Stuart James tweeted, “This morning my team and I responded to the worst radio broadcast of custody, words and scenes that I will never forget.

“The unimaginable happened to our police family. We have not only lost a good skipper, but also a real gentleman. One of the best. RIP brother. & # 39;

Community police officer Jacqueline Kufuor burst into tears after planting flowers outside the center in honor of her colleague. She said the late officer was "a lovely guy" and "the nicest man I have ever met".

She said, “You never expect this to happen when you go to work. It's just so sad that he was in custody and that this happened. & # 39;

She said, & # 39; He was a very handsome man. He was such a nice man. When he sees you, he'll just get up and talk to you. He would ask you about your job and how you are and how you are out there. So if I ever had problems, I would just talk to him. & # 39;

Neil John-Baptiste, 44, a salvage driver from Thornton Heath in south London drove into the center to plant flowers. He said, “I just think that a police officer lost his life in the course of his duty.

“I find what happened here today really daunting. These are just flowers, but it's a mark of respect. Things have to change. & # 39;

Dame Cressida said Sgt Ratana was known as a "big guy" with a "big heart".

She said, “A gracious man who is respected by his colleagues, officials, staff, and of course members of the public, including, I can say, suspects who have been arrested or taken into custody.

"He was well known locally and will be so well remembered and missed in Croydon, as well as in the Met and the rugby world."

Dame Cressida said he was leaving a partner and adult son from a previous relationship.

She said he had come to the Met in 1991, adding, "He was a talented police officer, captain of his recruit training class."

He first worked at Charring Cross before working at Hillingdon and Hackney.

She urged the public not to speculate about his death, saying, “I understand that there is great concern about how this happened, how this could have happened.

“I want to reassure everyone that the facts will be revealed, we owe it to Matt. We owe that to his family and of course to other police officers.

"But we have to give investigators the space to do their job and I have to say that speculation at this point is not helpful and can even harm our efforts."

Dame Cressida's New Zealand counterpart Andrew Coster wrote on Twitter: “The New Zealand Police today confirmed the deaths of serving Police Officer Met and former New Zealand Police Officer Sergeant Matiu Ratana, known as Matt.

Sergeant Ratana was already a seasoned officer in the UK when he joined the New Zealand Police Department in 2003 as part of the UK's first High Commission Wing, Wing 212. He served in Auckland City and Manukau Counties until 2008 before returning to the UK.

“As my Metropolitan Police counterpart Cressida Dick said this morning, policing is a family. While Sergeant Ratana has spent most of his career in the UK, anyone who serves here will always be part of our New Zealand Police Department.

"Wir sprechen seinen Freunden und seiner Familie im In- und Ausland sowie seinen Kollegen bei der Metropolitan Police und in ganz Großbritannien unser Beileid aus, die diesen Verlust heute zutiefst spüren werden."

Die neuseeländische Premierministerin Ardern sagte: „Unglaublich traurig, heute Morgen die Nachricht zu hören, dass ein in Großbritannien getöteter Polizeibeamter der Metropole Matiu Ratana war, ein ehemaliger neuseeländischer Polizeibeamter.

Sergeant Ratana arbeitete bis 2008 in Auckland City und den Counties Manukau, bevor er nach Großbritannien zurückkehrte. An alle Matiu Whanau auf der ganzen Welt, wir teilen Ihre Trauer und haben all unser Beileid. & # 39;

John Davies, ein ehemaliger Kollege von Sgt Ratana, sagte, er sei ein "wirklich bemerkenswerter, starker und einzigartiger Mensch".

Der 58-jährige Davies arbeitete von 2002 bis 2004 mit Sgt Ratana für die Metropolitan Police.

Er sagte: „Matt und ich waren beide Polizisten im Hillingdon Borough im Westen Londons und haben in diesen Jahren eng zusammengearbeitet.

„Ich möchte nur sagen, dass er ein wirklich bemerkenswerter, starker und einzigartiger Mensch war. Er hätte bei allen, mit denen er in Kontakt kam, einen Eindruck hinterlassen.

"Er war ein großartiger Kerl und wird schmerzlich vermisst werden." Er beschrieb Sgt Ratana als "stolze Maori".

Die Gemeindepolizistin Jacqueline Kufuor sagte: "Sgt Ratana war ein liebenswürdiger Kerl" und "der netteste Mann, den ich je getroffen habe".

She said, & # 39; He was a very handsome man. He was such a nice man. When he sees you, he'll just get up and talk to you.

“He asked you about your job and how you handle it and how you are out there. So if I ever had problems, I would just talk to him. & # 39;

A grieving friend said Sergeant Ratana left rugby practice just hours before he was murdered. He described the victim as a "leader among men".

Paul, 27, who did not provide his last name, said the officer played as a prop for East Grinstead Rugby Club in Sussex and has been the head coach for four years.

Als er am Freitag vor dem Internierungslager sprach und ein Trainingsoberteil des West Sussex-Teams trug, sagte er, sein Teamkollege sei ein "Riese eines Mannes", der die Seite in eine Gewinnmaschine verwandelte.

Paul, who works in recruiting, said, “He trained the stallions and was then head coach when they became available.

& # 39; He was a leader among men, the team started winning almost every game. It was definitely thanks to him that he never had the attitude to keep fighting. That was exactly what he was and he instilled that into the team.

"He played as a prop, he was a giant of a man."

Talking about his teammate he got emotional before adding, “We're all just devastated, it's all pretty overwhelming, it's hard to believe what happened.

& # 39; He was on the verge of retiring from the force. Es ist traurig, dass die Streitkräfte in diese Position gebracht werden, sie sind nur Männer und Frauen, die ihre Arbeit machen. It's unhappy because they're on the front lines, it's bad, but nobody deserves it.

"I saw him last night, we trained with the team and he left training to come to his night shift."

Nachdem Sergeant Ratana vor sechs Jahren nach Worthing in West Sussex gezogen war, übernahm er die Position des Cheftrainers des Clubs und half den Jugendlichen bei der Entwicklung ihres Spiels.

He had been an outstanding player himself and had even stood out among many other London clubs as a professional Londoner Irishman. Er hatte das Spiel an der Palmerston North Boys 'High School gelernt, die eine Reihe von All Blacks hervorgebracht hat.

Der Twitter-Account von England Rugby lautete: „Unsere Gedanken und die der gesamten Rugby-Familie sind bei der Familie und den Freunden von Sergeant Matt Ratana. Cheftrainer bei East Grinstead Rugby, der unserem Sport so viel gegeben hat. & # 39;

Three years after arriving in the UK, he married Teresa Conway in Slough and the couple had a son, Luke, the following year.

They later separated and his ex-wife and son are said to have emigrated to Australia. Freunde sagten, Sergeant Ratana sei Luke sehr nahe geblieben.

Sergeant Ratana schickte heute Morgen um 1.34 Uhr eine WhatsApp-Nachricht an seine Spieler im Rugby-Team von East Grinstead, in der laut Berichten "Gute Sitzung heute Abend" stand. Er wurde weniger als eine Stunde später erschossen.

Ein Freund sagte gegenüber der BBC: „Vor einigen Jahren hatte ich finanzielle Probleme. Er kam an einem Tag und gab mir 200 Pfund aus heiterem Himmel. Ich sagte 'nein nein, das kann ich nicht akzeptieren' – und gab es ihm zurück. Aber am nächsten Tag hat er es auf mein Konto überwiesen. Das ist der Typ, der er war. & # 39;

Scotland Yard said it has referred the incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which will lead an independent investigation.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said at the Home Office: “I am deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic overnight murder of the officer in Croydon.

“All of our thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of the Metropolitan Police officer, but also with the surveillance of families across the country.

“This is a sad day for our country as we see again the tragic murder of a police officer on duty who is trying to protect and protect us.

"Later today I will meet with the Metropolitan Police Commissioner to discuss the ongoing investigation and of course the Metropolitan Police Service needs the time and space now to move on with the investigation that is now due. & # 39;

IOPC Regional Director Sal Naseem yesterday said: 'Today a Metropolitan Police (MPS) officer has tragically died in the line of duty and we extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues and all of those affected by this shocking incident. The MPS is conducting a murder investigation into the death of the officer.

A 23-year-old man remains in critical condition in the hospital. If a member of the public dies or is seriously injured in police custody, the role of the Independent Police Conduct Office (IOPC) is to conduct an independent investigation into the circumstances of the incident.

“We started our investigation in the early hours of September 25th and our investigators were at the Croydon Custody Center on Windmill Road in south London collecting evidence. Our investigators are also in the area where the man was arrested, collecting relevant CCTV evidence.

“We will investigate all police contact with the man from his detention to today's tragic incident. It is understandable that speculation and questions are being asked about how this incident turned out and we are looking for answers. It is important that we determine the sequence of events independently.

'Given the clear trauma of the officers who were present during the incident, they have not yet submitted their first reports. Work to maintain this will continue next week.

& # 39; We received video surveillance from the detention center and body-worn footage from the officers present. This will be checked and analyzed in the coming days.

„Wir haben festgestellt, dass der Mann wegen Besitzes von Drogen der Klasse B mit der Absicht verhaftet wurde, Munition zu liefern und zu besitzen. Der Mann wurde nach hinten gefesselt, bevor er in einem Polizeifahrzeug zur Croydon Custody Suite gebracht wurde, wo er in das Gebäude gebracht wurde. Er blieb nach hinten gefesselt und saß in einem Haltebereich in der Haftsuite.

Seine Handschellen blieben an Ort und Stelle, während die Beamten sich darauf vorbereiteten, ihn mit einem Metalldetektor zu durchsuchen. Es ist an dem Punkt, an dem Schüsse abgegeben wurden, die zu tödlichen Verletzungen des Offiziers und zu kritischen Verletzungen des Mannes führten. Eine nicht polizeiliche Feuerwaffe, bei der es sich anscheinend um einen Revolver handelt, wurde von der Szene geborgen. Weitere ballistische Arbeiten sind erforderlich.

"Die MPS führt eine separate Mordermittlung zum Tod ihres Beamten durch, und wir arbeiten daran, dass unsere Ermittlungen keine Auswirkungen auf ihre Ermittlungen haben."

Leroy Logan, ein ehemaliger Superintendent der Metropolitan Police, sagte, es seien eine Reihe von Fragen zu den Umständen zu beantworten, die zur Erschießung eines Beamten auf einer Polizeistation geführt hätten.

Er sagte gegenüber BBC News: „Das erste, was Sie wissen möchten, ist, wie dies geschehen ist.

„Wie kam es, dass diese Person in der Station war, ob auf dem Hof ​​oder im Gebäude selbst, und in der Lage war, eine Waffe herzustellen, ob sie gerade auf ihnen war?

„Es hängt vom Kaliber der Waffe ab, denn wenn es sich offensichtlich um eine kleine Waffe handelt und diese leicht in der Kleidung dieser Person zu finden ist, stellt sich offensichtlich eine weitere Frage, wie gründlich diese Person durchsucht wurde, wenn überhaupt.

„Das sind die Dinge, mit denen sich die Abteilung für berufliche Standards und das Unabhängige Büro für Polizeiverhalten sowie die Ermittlungsbeamten befassen werden, die sich eingehend mit dieser Sache befassen müssen.

"Weil es viel Lernen gibt und es offensichtlich viel Schmerz für die Familie und Freunde und Kollegen dieses Offiziers gibt, der in den Dienst gefallen ist."

Speaking to BBC News, former Metropolitan Police superintendent Mr Logan said the procedure followed will depend on the circumstances in which police came into contact with a suspect.

He said: 'It depends if that person was arrested outside the police station and has been transported in a vehicle. Invariably these officers will search that individual to make sure they haven't got anything that can harm other people or themselves.

'Or try and hide any material whether it's drugs or any sort of articles that they shouldn't have.

'That's standard procedure and of course that's for security reasons just in case they have got a weapon.

'There are circumstances where someone might turn up at the custody suite area itself in the reception and are led straight through.

'So not knowing all of the details, how this person got into the secure area of the station, whether it's outside the building or in the yard or whatever, we just need to try and find out what's happened because the details are very, very scant.'

Former Metropolian Police officer Dal Babu told LBC Radio: 'A full body search, you'd expect that to take place at the time of the arrest.

'The once they're in the police station you might do a more thorough search, the custody officer may authorise a strip search, and that's when you may find other weapons on individuals.

'For safety purposes officers are advised to carry out the search at the time of the arrest.

'Officers are having to travel some significant distances to take prisoners to custody suites.'

Steve Reed, Labour MP for Croydon North, said his thoughts were with the officer's family and colleagues.

He tweeted: 'All of us in Croydon are in shock at this heartbreaking tragic news.'

Mr Reed, 46, left a floral tribute at the scene with party chair Mohammed Islam, 46.

Mr Islam was 'deeply touched' by the incident as his son Shakz, 23, is waiting for his start date to become a police officer covering Westminster, Fulham and Chelsea.

He said: 'This is why I am really really touched by what has happened. It's very shocking and devastating news as I never thought something to this extent could happen in this day and age.

'I really feel for the family. The bravery the emergency services show in protecting us is incredible. I know that my son will also show this courage and not be deterred by this awful event.'

His son Shakz Islam, 23, said: 'When I heard an officer had been shot dead, I was absolutely shocked. My brother kept calling me to tell me someone had been killed a custody officer.

'It's absolutely appalling but does not put me off wanting to become an officer. If anything it makes me want to protect the public more and shows the career is worthwhile.'

Brother Zak Islam, 20, added: 'It's just such a surprise that it's happened here. A custody station like this is supposed to keep people safe.

'I just don't get how the gun wasn't found during a search before he was taken into the building. It may have prevented it from happening. I've grown up here my whole life and like living here.

'It is a bit rough but crime seems to have seriously dropped since the police station was built around five years ago.'

Recovery driver Neil Garcia, 44, heard a helicopter circling overhead after he returned from work shortly after 1am. He added to the bunches of flowers left outside the custody centre.

Mr Garcia said: 'It's not a surprise to hear a helicopter round here late at night but I saw the devastating news this morning. I thought it was only right to lay flowers today because a human being has lost their life at the end of the day.

'There might be a lot of tension between young people and the police around here but it's the same with many communities.

'While I don't know this officer, I know a lot of good people in the police who helped me turn my life around when I was younger so this has touched my heart.

'These people are just doing their job out of love for the communities they serve and there's no way something like this should happen to them.'

Meanwhile Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: 'Horrific to hear of a police officer being shot and killed in Croydon.

'Our police put themselves in harm's way every day to keep us safe. All my thoughts are with the officer's family, friends and colleagues.'

London Mayor Sadiq Khan tweeted: 'Devastated by this news. My heart goes out to the family of this brave officer, who has paid the ultimate price for helping to keep Londoners safe.

'Tragic incidents like this are terrible reminders of the dangers our police officers face every single day.'

Justice Secretary Robert Buckland tweeted he was 'shocked and saddened' by the news.

He said: 'My thoughts are with the officer's loved ones, colleagues and the wider police community.'

A London Ambulance Service spokesman said: 'We were called at 2.16am this morning to reports of an incident on Windmill Lane, Croydon.

'We sent two ambulance crews, an incident response officer, an advanced paramedic and two medics in cars. We also dispatched a London's Air Ambulance trauma team.

'Policing is a family and I join my colleagues across the country in mourning the senseless death of one of our own in the line of duty.'

Ken Marsh, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said: 'The murder of a colleague on duty is utterly devastating news.

'Officers across London are in shock and sick to their stomachs at the nature of his death.

'All our thoughts – and that of all our members – are with his family, friends and close colleagues at this time. We and all members of the police family across the country are all utterly heartbroken at this news.'

He added: 'Officers put themselves in danger every day to protect the public.

'Sadly, on very rare occasions officers make the ultimate sacrifice whilst fulfilling their role.

'When that happens we will ensure their bravery and sacrifice is never forgotten.

'Colleagues involved in the incident will have our full support for as long as is needed.'

IOPC regional director Sal Naseem said: 'Our deepest sympathies go out to all those affected by this terrible event.

'We were notified by the MPS of the shooting incident at Croydon Custody Centre early this morning.

'We understand a police officer has since sadly died and a man is in a critical condition in hospital.

'A murder investigation by the force is under way.

'Our investigators are at the scene and police post incident procedure to begin our independent enquiries.'