Charing Cross Police Station
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| Charing Cross Police Station | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Interactive map of the Charing Cross Police Station area | |
| General information | |
| Location | Charing Cross, London, England |
| Coordinates | 51°30′35″N 0°07′30″W / 51.5097°N 0.1250°W |
| Construction started | 15 September 1831 |
| Completed | January 1834 |
| Opened | 10 February 1834 (as Charing Cross Hospital) |
| Owner | Metropolitan Police |
Charing Cross Police Station is a Metropolitan Police Service station in London's Charing Cross area. Its site in Agar Street was formerly the main site of Charing Cross Hospital.[1] The station, UK's busiest,[2][3] comprises two individually listed Grade II listed buildings.[4][5]
Starting in 2018, a series of investigations known collectively as Operation Hotton were carried out by the Metropolitan Police regarding activities of officers based mostly at Charing Cross Police Station.[6] These were unified into a single investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.[7][8] Following the IOPC's findings of multiple cases of bullying, harassment and sexual harassment, the Metropolitan Police accepted the recommendations made by the IOPC.[6][9]
An undercover Panorama investigation released in 2025 showed officers at Charing Cross Police Station displaying racist and misogynistic attitudes and bragging about the use of excessive force.[10] In response to the programme's findings, the Metropolitan Police suspended eight officers and one staff member, took two officers off of frontline duties, and referred the matter to the IOPC.[10] Commissioner Mark Rowley said the documented behaviour was "totally unacceptable and contrary to the values and standards" of the police force.[10] As a result of the investigation, seven officers were dismissed from the force for gross misconduct[11] and the custody team at Charing Cross was disbanded.[12]
