On January 30th an incident unfolded in Southwark. A man identified as Bryce Hodgson, aged 30, was shot dead by Metropolitan Police officers.
The Metropolitan Police were responding to reports of an attempted break-in. The Independent Office for Police Conduct has initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
According to the IOPC, officers were called to the property on Bywater Place following multiple reports of Hodgson attempting to break into the residence at approximately 5am.
Body-worn video footage revealed that Hodgson was “threatening to harm residents inside the address.”
Local police officers attempted to engage with Hodgson, but called for armed assistance after facing threats. Upon arrival, armed officers entered the property. Hodgson, who was wearing body armour, was found with various weapons at the scene, including “crossbows, a knife, a sword, and a hatchet.”
A man died after being shot by armed officers responding to calls for help from occupants of an address in #Southwark.
We understand the local community will be concerned by this incident and the matter has been referred to the #IOPC
Read more 👇https://t.co/KTAZFxuoJ7
— Southwark Police | Central South BCU (@MPSSouthwark) January 30, 2024
Despite immediate first aid efforts by officers and paramedics from the London Ambulance Service, Hodgson succumbed to his injuries at the scene. Two occupants of the residence sustained minor injuries during the incident.
“Given a man has died after being shot by police, our role is to independently investigate all of the circumstances surrounding this incident including the actions and decisions taken by the police,” stated Mel Palmer, Regional Director at the IOPC. Palmer acknowledged community concerns and assured that investigators are diligently working to “establish the facts surrounding the incident.”
Statement from Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist following this morning's incident in #Southwark https://t.co/mkfpmz2ygB pic.twitter.com/kViSLxDB7A
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) January 30, 2024
The Metropolitan Police’s Directorate of Professional Standards has been informed, and a referral to the IOPC has triggered an independent probe into the actions and decisions taken by the police during the encounter.
Detective Chief Superintendent Seb Adjei-Addoh, responsible for policing Southwark, extended sympathies to those affected and affirmed full cooperation with the IOPC investigation.
He emphasized the rarity of armed officers discharging their weapons and the high level of scrutiny such actions undergo.
The House of Commons Library outlines the current crossbow regulations in the UK, highlighting that possession of crossbows by adults is legal and not subject to registration. However, the sale and possession of crossbows to or by children are controlled.
The Crossbows Act 1987 prohibits individuals under 18 from purchasing or possessing a crossbow, and hunting with crossbows is banned under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
