Met Police Sergeant Charged With Perverting Justice Over Alleged Witness Interference in Charing Cross Probe

A serving Metropolitan Police officer has been charged in connection with an attempt to obstruct an investigation into alleged misconduct at Charing Cross police station in central London, becoming the first person to face criminal proceedings as a result of a BBC Panorama undercover exposé.

Sgt Sadiq Al-Hasani, 37, was charged with perverting the course of justice on 13 August in relation to an incident alleged to have taken place on 2 October 2025 — just one day after the Panorama programme was broadcast. The officer, who was attached to the Met's Central West Command Unit, will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

The charge represents a significant escalation in a case that has already resulted in disciplinary findings against a substantial number of officers. According to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which carried out the criminal investigation, Sgt Al-Hasani is alleged to have deliberately sought to discourage another officer from providing a statement to the watchdog.

In a statement, the Met said the charge related to an allegation that Sgt Al-Hasani "deliberately sought to discourage another officer from making a statement to the Independent Office for Police Conduct." The IOPC added that the sergeant allegedly approached a junior officer who was considered a potential key witness in the wider Charing Cross investigation, with the intention of obstructing or interfering with the probe.

The IOPC had launched its investigation after receiving a mandatory conduct referral from the Metropolitan Police on 3 October 2025, two days after the Panorama broadcast. As part of its inquiries, the watchdog reviewed unbroadcast footage gathered during the programme's production, examining material that never reached television audiences.

The IOPC completed its investigation in June and referred a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service, which ultimately authorised the charge against Sgt Al-Hasani. The sergeant remains suspended from duty, the Met confirmed.

The undercover programme, titled "BBC Panorama – Undercover in the Police," aired on 1 October 2025. For the investigation, a BBC journalist worked covertly inside the custody suite at Charing Cross police station, secretly filming officers. The resulting footage captured a number of officers making racist remarks and boasting about violence used against suspects.

The broadcast triggered immediate scrutiny of the culture and conduct within the Metropolitan Police, an organisation already under intense pressure over a series of damaging scandals in recent years. The force, which is the largest in the United Kingdom, has faced repeated questions about racism, misogyny and a failure to root out problematic behaviour within its ranks.

The disciplinary consequences of the investigation have been wide-reaching. According to the IOPC, 15 officers have been found to have committed gross misconduct. All but one of the 15 — a former police constable — have been barred from policing altogether, meaning they can no longer serve in any force in the country.

The scale of those findings suggests systemic problems within the Charing Cross custody suite rather than isolated lapses, according to policing analysts. The fact that the vast majority of the officers involved have been prohibited from continuing their careers underscores the severity with which the allegations have been treated.

Investigations are ongoing into the conduct of a further 14 officers or police staff, meaning the total number of personnel under scrutiny could grow further. The IOPC has not indicated when those remaining inquiries are expected to conclude.

The decision to charge a serving officer with an offence as serious as perverting the course of justice carries particular weight. Legal analysts note that such charges are typically reserved for conduct alleged to have undermined the integrity of the justice system itself — in this case, an attempt to interfere with a witness whose evidence could be central to a broader investigation.

If found guilty, a conviction for perverting the course of justice can carry a substantial custodial sentence. The charge also raises broader questions about the internal culture of police forces and whether officers feel emboldened to obstruct oversight bodies attempting to hold colleagues to account.

The case highlights the role of the IOPC, which operates independently of police forces and is responsible for investigating the most serious allegations of misconduct. Its ability to compel cooperation and pursue criminal referrals is central to the accountability framework governing policing in England and Wales.

It also reflects the role that journalism can play in bringing hidden conduct to light. Undercover reporting, while rare and resource-intensive, has repeatedly exposed practices that would otherwise remain concealed within closed institutional environments such as custody suites, where public access is heavily restricted.

The Metropolitan Police has not commented on the substance of the allegation beyond confirming the charge and the officer's suspension. Sgt Al-Hasani is expected to enter a plea or have his case preliminarily considered when he appears before magistrates. The matter is likely to be sent to a higher court given the nature of the charge.

For the BBC, the case marks the first criminal charge to arise directly from the Panorama investigation, though further outcomes could follow as the remaining IOPC inquiries conclude and decisions are made on other officers. The broadcaster has not indicated whether additional footage or findings will be published.

As the criminal proceedings begin, attention will also remain fixed on the broader reckoning within the Metropolitan Police, which continues to face demands for deeper cultural reform. The Charing Cross case has become a focal point for critics who argue that oversight mechanisms, while now producing results, are acting only after serious harm has already been done.