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A Metropolitan Police officer has become the first person to be charged as a result of a BBC Panorama investigation into alleged misconduct at Charing Cross police station in London.<\/b><\/p>\n
Sgt Sadiq Al-Hasani, 37, has been charged with perverting the course of justice.<\/p>\n
He will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday. <\/p>\n
In a statement, the Met Police said the charge related to an allegation Sgt Al-Hasani, who was attached to Central West Command Unit, “deliberately sought to discourage another officer from making a statement to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC)”.<\/p>\n
The IOPC had begun an investigation following the broadcast on 1 October 2025 of BBC Panorama \u2013 Undercover in the Police.<\/p>\n
As part of the programme, a BBC journalist went undercover working in the custody suite, secretly filming a number of officers making racist comments and bragging about violence used against suspects.<\/p>\n
Al-Hasani was charged on 13 August in relation to an incident on 2 October 2025.<\/p>\n
In a statement, the IOPC said Sgt Al-Hasani allegedly approached a junior officer, who was a potential key witness in the wider Charing Cross investigation, with the intention to obstruct or interfere with the probe.<\/p>\n
He remains suspended from duty, the Met said. <\/p>\n
The IOPC began its investigation after a mandatory conduct referral from the Met on 3 October. <\/p>\n
As part of this, the IOPC reviewed footage gathered as part of the programme which was not broadcast. <\/p>\n
Its investigation finished in June, at which point it decided to refer a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service. <\/p>\n
According to the IOPC, 15 officers have been found to have committed gross misconduct. All except one of the 15, a former PC, have been barred from policing.<\/p>\n
Investigations continue into the conduct of a further 14 officers or police staff.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n