Matiu Ratana

Died

25 September 2020

Age

Rank

Police Sergeant

Force

Metropolitan Police

Cause

Homicide - Shot

Duty Status

On Duty

Roll of Honour Citation

Died in hospital after being shot by a prisoner in the custody centre at Croydon.

Roll of Honour Citation

Died in hospital after being shot by a prisoner in the custody centre at Croydon.

Circumstances

On the morning of 25 September 2020, a 23-year-old man was arrested for drugs offences and possession of ammunition and taken to the Croydon Custody Centre. Approaching the suspect to carry-out a temperature check for COVID-19 infection and search him, Sgt Ratana was shot in the chest. He was taken to hospital, where he died from gunshot wounds. Sgt Ratana was later awarded BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2020 Unsung Hero award.

On the morning of 25th September 2020, a 23-year-old man was arrested for drugs offences and possession of ammunition and taken to the Croydon Custody Centre. Approaching the suspect to carry-out a temperature check for COVID-19 infection and search him, Sgt Ratana was shot in the chest.

He was taken to hospital where he died from gunshot wounds.

Sgt Ratana was posthumously awarded the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2020 Unsung Hero award.