MPS officer found with indecent images of children sentenced

Detective Constable Paul Allgood, 60, attached to the MPS’s Economic Crime Unit, pleaded guilty to three counts of making/possessing indecent images of children and three counts of outraging public decency when he appeared at Wood Green Crown Court last month. He returned to the same court on Tuesday (May 25) where he was sentenced to 22 months’ imprisonment for all offences, suspended for 24 months.

The court heard that on June 4, 2019, officers from the Online Child Abuse and Exploitation Unit (OCSAE) executed a search warrant at Allgood’s home address in Enfield. Officers arrested him at the address on suspicion of being in possession of indecent images of children. Twenty electronic devices were seized.

Allgood was released on conditional bail while the seized devices were analysed. Five were found to contain indecent images of children. He was charged by postal requisition in November 2020 and was suspended from all duties prior to his court appearance.

Commander Alex Murray said: “The possession of indecent images is not a victimless crime. We work closely with our counterparts in the UK and overseas to investigate criminal behaviour online, to share information and to identify offenders. We are committed to bringing anyone involved in the production, distribution and possession of this material to justice.

“The public will be concerned that the individual involved in this case is a serving police officer. His actions go against all the core values of policing and our swift action in this case demonstrates our commitment to tackling this crime, whoever and wherever offenders are. They can be assured that misconduct proceedings will swiftly follow the conclusion of this criminal case.”