An armed royal protection officer lost his job after lying about losing ammunition at Buckingham Palace, sparking concerns over security at the royal residence.
Stephen Cotgreave, who served with the Metropolitan Police’s Royalty and Specialist Protection unit, was on foot patrol alone when the incident occurred on December 6, 2022. During his patrol, he accidentally dropped the magazine from his firearm, picked it up, and reloaded it. But when he returned to the armory at the end of his shift, he discovered one round of ammunition was missing.
CCTV footage later revealed the moment he dropped the magazine, but when asked about the missing bullet, Cotgreave denied dropping it and insisted he had no explanation for its absence.
The situation became more alarming as it coincided with heightened tensions surrounding the royal family, as earlier the same day, King Charles had been targeted by a protester who threw eggs at him during a public engagement. "There should have been an immediate search of the area after the magazine dropped," said Unyime Davies, representing the Metropolitan Police, emphasizing the potential risk this incident posed to royal security.
For almost eight days, Cotgreave remained silent about the incident, leading to increased scrutiny. The missing bullet was eventually located on December 14, exactly where he had initially dropped the magazine. He later admitted to feeling "stupid, ashamed, and embarrassed" upon recovering it. His failure to disclose the incident by December 8 was deemed a breach of the police standards for honesty and integrity.
During the misconduct hearing, Cotgreave defended himself by stating, "This was just a moment of madness; I panicked." He maintained his long record of 24 years of service free from blemishes needed to be considered. His legal counsel, Nicholas Yeo, argued for leniency due to his extensive unblemished service record and the difficulty of rectifying his mistake once he realized the gravity of his actions.
Nevertheless, the misconduct panel saw things differently. "Mr. Cotgreave had plenty of time and opportunity to confess to the incident during the eight days he concealed it," said Harry Ireland KC, the panel's chairman. They emphasized his actions represented a significant betrayal of trust, particularly as he worked closely within the royal household. His deliberate attempts to mislead fellow officers during the investigation contributed to their decision.
At the conclusion of the hearing, Cotgreave was dismissed from his position, labeled gross misconduct for not only lying but also for failing to adhere to the high standards expected of his position—which exists to protect not just the royal family but also the public at large.
This decision highlights the stringent expectations placed on officers within the Royalty and Specialist Protection unit, especially considering their unique responsibility to uphold the safety of the royal family.
The outcome of this misconduct hearing raises important questions about training and accountability within the ranks of protective services tasked with ensuring the royal family's safety amid growing public scrutiny and protest actions.
While Cotgreave expressed regret for his actions, insisting it was never his intent to neglect the safety of the royal household, the breach of protocol cannot be overlooked. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of transparency and integrity, especially for those sworn to protect.
The Metropolitan Police have reiterated their commitment to rigorous standards of conduct and the need for accountability among their officers, stressing the gravity of this situation.
