A Metropolitan Police officer has pleaded guilty to three counts of possession of indecent images of children.

PC Darren Hourigan, 51, who is attached to the South Area Command Unit, appeared at Kingston Crown Court on Wednesday, (April 26) where he pleaded guilty.

It follows an investigation by the Met's Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse team supported by the Directorate of Professional Standards which led to PC Hourigan's arrest in March 2020.

Hourigan was suspended from the force prior to being charged on September 1, 2022.

Misconduct proceedings will commence in due course, the Met said.

Chief Superintendent Andy Brittain, who is in charge of policing in South Area, said: "We have made it clear that the Met will take action against any of its staff who are not fit to remain within the organisation, and we will now prepare for a misconduct hearing.

"We are committed to providing Londoners with a Met that they deserve; one that upholds the law on the streets of the capital and amongst its own ranks. The vast majority of the thousands of police officers and staff are striving to take this forward – those who won't are not worthy to remain."

Hourigan will be sentenced at Kingston Crown Court on Friday, July 7.