Daniel Babbs

A former Metropolitan Police officer has been sentenced for serious sexual offences involving indecent images of children, marking a significant fall from grace for the disgraced constable. Daniel Babbs, previously attached to the Met’s Forensic Services department, was arrested in September 2021 after uploading an indecent image to a social media platform. Subsequent examination of his electronic devices revealed additional illegal material, leading to charges in June 2022.

Babbs pleaded guilty in July 2022 to three counts of making an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child and one count of possessing a prohibited image of a child. At a sentencing hearing, he received a six-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, avoiding immediate custody. The court also imposed a seven-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, a 10-year Notification Order requiring him to register as a sex offender, and ordered him to complete 150 hours of unpaid work, in addition to paying £425 in costs. This outcome reflects the gravity of the offences while considering mitigating factors in his case.

Prior to his resignation from the Metropolitan Police in November 2021, Babbs would have faced immediate dismissal following an accelerated misconduct hearing held at the Empress State Building. The hearing concluded that his actions constituted gross misconduct and breached standards of discreditable conduct. Chris Porter, Director of Forensic Services at the Met, stated: “We remain committed to ensuring that our workforce meets the highest levels of professionalism, and where we find this to not be the case, we will take appropriate action through the criminal courts and our own internal misconduct procedures.” As a result, Babbs has been added to the College of Policing’s Barred List, barring him from future employment in policing roles, including with local policing bodies, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, or His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services.

The case underscores ongoing efforts within the Metropolitan Police to maintain integrity among its ranks, particularly in sensitive areas like forensic services. Babbs, from Surrey, had access to confidential information and equipment that amplified the breach of trust. The offences came to light through proactive digital investigations, highlighting the challenges of monitoring online activities by public servants. This incident is part of a broader pattern of misconduct cases within the force, as reported by The Evening Standard on 16 November 2022.