Peter Ba-Han

A Metropolitan Police officer from London has been dismissed after admitting to possessing a vast collection of indecent images of children. PC Peter Ba-Han, aged 55 and residing in Dawley, Shropshire, was suspended from duty in May 2013 following a police search of his home, where officers seized a computer and external hard drives containing more than 65,000 such images.

Ba-Han, who served with the Metropolitan Police Service, claimed during the investigation that he was unaware of the nature of the images at the time of downloading them. However, this defence did not prevent formal charges. Last month, at Southwark Crown Court, he pleaded guilty to one count of making indecent images of children, breaching the Met's standards of professional behaviour.

The case came to light through an internal investigation by the Met Police's Professionalism Command. Richard Martin, from the command, stated: "Ba Han's abhorrent behaviour has been exposed and he has rightfully been dismissed from the Metropolitan Police Service." Judge Andrew Goymer, presiding over the plea hearing, warned Ba-Han that he could expect a prison sentence, with sentencing scheduled for 23 March 2017.

This incident underscores the rigorous standards enforced within the police force regarding professional conduct, particularly in cases involving child exploitation material. The Metropolitan Police has emphasised its commitment to upholding integrity among its officers, ensuring that such breaches are met with decisive action. The story was reported by the BBC on 10 February 2017, highlighting the severity of the offences and the subsequent dismissal.