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Met Police officer admits possessing indecent images of children

DC Paul Allgood also admitted outraging public decency

Lizzie Dearden
Home Affairs Correspondent
Thursday 08 April 2021 19:55 EDT
The New Scotland Yard logo outside the Metropolitan Police headquarters in London
The New Scotland Yard logo outside the Metropolitan Police headquarters in London (Getty Images)

A serving Metropolitan Police officer has admitted possessing indecent images of children and “outraging public decency”.

Detective Constable Paul Allgood, 60, was found to have collected the images on five electronic devices.

He pleaded guilty to three counts of making or possessing indecent images of children and three counts of outraging public decency at Wood Green Crown Court on Thursday.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: “The court heard that on 4 June 2019 officers from the Online Child Abuse and Exploitation Unit (OCSAE) executed a search warrant at his home address in Enfield.

“Officers arrested Allgood at the address on suspicion of being in possession of indecent images of children.

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“In total, 20 devices were seized from his home. Allgood was released on conditional bail pending further enquiries.

“The devices were analysed, and indecent images of children were found.”

The officer was charged in November, after investigation found the images on five electronic devices such as laptops, USB sticks and hard drives.

Allgood, who was attached to Scotland Yard’s economic crime unit, was suspended from duty in January.

Following his conviction, he will be dismissed at formal misconduct proceedings. Allgood is due to appear at Wood Green Crown Court to be sentenced on 25 May.

It comes amid several recent court cases involving Metropolitan Police officers.

Met Police officer convicted of membership of neo-Nazi terrorist group

Last week, probationary PC Benjamin Hannam was convicted of formerly being a member of neo-Nazi terrorist group National Action.

He is believed to be the first police officer in British history to be found guilty of a terror offence.

Another Metropolitan Police officer, PC Wayne Couzens, 48, is due to go on trial later this year accused of the murder of Sarah Everard.

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