Charing Cross Police Station

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 started	15 September 1831
Completed	January 1834
Opened	10 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]}

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 bragging about the use of 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] As a result of the investigation, six officers were dismissed from the force for gross misconduct ^[11] and the custody team at Charing Cross was disbanded. ^[12]

Facilities

The station has two armouries for storage of police firearms and ammunition. ^[13]

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. "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. 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. "Sixth Met officer sacked after BBC Panorama film". BBC News. 7 November 2025.
12. Megan Howe (12 September 2025). "Nine officers at Charing Cross Police station suspended after allegations of 'criminality and misconduct'". Evening Standard.
13. "Charing Cross Police Station". Southern Construction Framework. Retrieved 30 November 2024.

External links

• Charing Cross Hospital. Lost Hospitals of London.