Charing Cross Police Station

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Charing Cross Police Station
Charing Cross Police Station - geograph.org.uk - 104079.jpg
Charing Cross Police Station
General information
Location Charing Cross, London, England
Coordinates 51°30′35″N0°07′30″W / 51.5097°N 0.1250°W / 51.5097; -0.1250
Construction started15 September 1831
CompletedJanuary 1834
Opened10 February 1834 (as Charing Cross Hospital)
Owner Metropolitan Police

Charing Cross Police Station is a Metropolitan Police Service station in London's Charing Cross area. Its site in Agar Street was formerly the main site of Charing Cross Hospital. [1] The station, UK's busiest, [2] [3] comprises two individually listed Grade II listed buildings. [4] [5]

Contents

History

Starting in 2018, a series of investigations known collectively as Operation Hotton were carried out by the Metropolitan Police regarding activities of officers based mostly at Charing Cross Police Station. [6] These were unified into a single investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct. [7] [8] Following the IOPC's findings of multiple cases of bullying, harassment and sexual harassment, the Metropolitan Police accepted the recommendations made by the IOPC. [6] [9]

An undercover Panorama investigation released in 2025 showed officers at Charing Cross Police Station displaying racist and misogynistic attitudes and using excessive force. [10] In response to the programme's findings, the Metropolitan Police suspended eight officers and one staff member, took two officers off of frontline duties, and referred the matter to the IOPC. [10] Commissioner Mark Rowley said the documented behaviour was "totally unacceptable and contrary to the values and standards" of the police force. [10] One officer featured in the programme was arrested for perverting the course of justice. [11]

Facilities

The station has two armouries for storage of police firearms and ammunition. [12]

References

  1. ↑ "Lost Hospitals of London". ezitis.myzen.co.uk. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  2. ↑ "Metropolitan Police chief vows to remove racist, sexist and violent officers from force". Sky News . Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  3. ↑ "Why the BBC went undercover in the Met Police to investigate claims of racism and misogyny". BBC News . 1 October 2025. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  4. ↑ "FORMER CHARING CROSS HOSPITAL (EAST SIDE), Non Civil Parish - 1066516 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  5. ↑ "WESTERN CORNER BLOCK OF FORMER CHARING CROSS HOSPITAL, Non Civil Parish - 1224573 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  6. 1 2 "Charing Cross: Met Police vow to 'root out' bad officers". BBC News. 7 April 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  7. ↑ "Q&A with the Met on Charing Cross police scandal | London City Hall". www.london.gov.uk. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  8. ↑ "Operation Hotton recommendations - Metropolitan Police Service, September 2021 | Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC)". www.policeconduct.gov.uk. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  9. ↑ "Operation Hotton learning report, January 2022 | Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC)". www.policeconduct.gov.uk. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  10. 1 2 3 Adrian Polglase; Joseph Lee (1 October 2025). "Unmasked: Secret BBC filming exposes hidden culture of misogyny and racism inside Met Police". BBC News . Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  11. ↑ "Serving Met police officer arrested after BBC Panorama investigation". BBC News. 3 October 2025.
  12. ↑ "Charing Cross Police Station". Southern Construction Framework. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
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