Grant Long

A Metropolitan Police officer, Grant Long, has avoided immediate imprisonment after admitting to serious sexual offences involving children. The 34-year-old, residing in Eltham, south-east London, was exposed through online conversations with an undercover officer who posed as a paedophile named 'Jason' offering his stepdaughter for sexual abuse.

Long, attached to the Met's Central West Command Unit, engaged in explicit discussions revealing his sexual interest in very young children. He confessed to 'Jason' that while his primary interest was in children over five, he had 'enjoyed from new-born previously'. These exchanges included detailed arrangements to meet and sexually assault the supposed 10-year-old girl. Additionally, Long disclosed a past incident where he had sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl when he was 19 years old.

The conversations led to Long's arrest in January while he was on duty. He was immediately suspended by the Metropolitan Police. In court, Long pleaded guilty to one count of intentionally encouraging or assisting in the sexual assault of a child by penetration and three counts of distributing an indecent image of a child. The case was heard at Snaresbrook Crown Court, where on 24 October, Judge Deborah Taylor sentenced him to two years' custody, suspended for two years.

• Long's unit, the Central West Command Unit, had recently been subject to scrutiny following a BBC Panorama investigation into scandals within the force.
• Following his guilty plea and sentencing, an accelerated misconduct hearing resulted in Long's dismissal from the Metropolitan Police later that month.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police confirmed: 'Long was immediately suspended from duty after his arrest in January. He was then dismissed following an accelerated misconduct hearing later that same month.' This case underscores ongoing concerns about vetting and conduct within law enforcement, particularly in relation to child protection roles.