Police Constable Stephen Cotgreave, part of the elite Royalty and Specialist Protection (RaSP) team, has been dismissed following an ammunition mishap at Buckingham Palace. On 6 December 2022, Cotgreave dropped the magazine from his service pistol while on patrol. Although he retrieved and replaced the magazine, one bullet was discovered missing when the weapon was returned to the armoury.
Cotgreave denied dropping the magazine and was unable to explain the missing round. However, CCTV footage revealed the exact circumstances under which the bullet went missing, contradicting his account.
A misconduct hearing held on 18 November 2024 at London’s Empress State Building found Cotgreave guilty of breaching the Standards of Professional Behaviour. The panel cited serious failures in honesty and integrity, branding his actions as gross misconduct. This charge resulted in his immediate dismissal.
The hearing also highlighted Cotgreave’s dishonesty during the investigation, describing it as a betrayal of the trust placed in officers responsible for protecting some of the United Kingdom’s most sensitive sites.
The Metropolitan Police acted swiftly, terminating Cotgreave’s employment without notice. A Met Police spokesperson stated: “The integrity of our officers is paramount, particularly in roles that demand the highest levels of trust and accountability. This outcome reflects the seriousness with which we treat any breaches of honesty and integrity within the organisation.”
This incident underscores the strict standards upheld by the Metropolitan Police, sending a clear message that any security lapses or breaches of trust, especially in royal protection roles, will be dealt with severely.
Originally published by UKNIP.
