Man charged after MPS traffic officer killed

Tributes were paid to a Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) traffic officer who was killed in a hit-and-run incident.

PC Andy Duncan, 47, was hit by a black Volkswagen Golf in the early hours of Friday in Sutton, South London, as he attempted to stop the vehicle. It was later found abandoned close to the scene of the incident.

The married father-of-two was taken to hospital, where he died on Sunday morning.

MPS officers investigating the incident arrested Gary Bromige, 25, and on Sunday evening he was charged with causing death by dangerous driving, failing to stop at the scene of an accident, failing to report an accident and driving without insurance.

Mr Bromige appeared at South Western Magistrates’ Court on Monday, where he confirmed his name, and a preliminary hearing will take place at Kingston Crown Court on October 7.

Two men, aged 19 and 23, were arrested on Monday and have been charged with unrelated firearms and drug offences, while another two other men, aged 19 and 20, were arrested on Sunday and released on bail until next month. A woman was arrested on Saturday on suspicion of perverting the course of justice and has also been bailed until October.

PC Duncan joined the MPS on March 19, 1990 and began his service in Battersea before transferring to the South-West Territorial Support Group six years later. He served nearly seven years before moving to the Hammersmith and Fulham borough, and joined the South-West Traffic Unit in May 2004.

Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, MPS commissioner, paid tribute to PC Duncan.

He said: “I was so sad to hear that PC Andrew Duncan died this morning. On behalf of the Metropolitan Police family, I would like to offer my sincere condolences to his wife and children, parents, family and friends.

“Andy was a hard working and courageous policeman. He served the community as both a police officer and as a Scouting volunteer.

“The night he was injured, he was doing a job that he loved and we all had every right to expect he would return safely to his home and family – tragically that was not the case.”

Tributes and condolences to PC Duncan were also offered on social media sites from former colleagues, officers around the country and members of the public.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson also praised PC Duncan for his services to policing, and said: “His death is a tragedy and a reminder of the courage and sacrifice shown daily by the men and women who keep London safe.”