A former City of London Police officer has been found to have committed gross misconduct after admitting guilt to assaulting a 12-year-old boy while drunk and off duty, with the force’s Commissioner concluding his actions amounted to a “clear breach” of professional standards.
Criminal Proceedings
Former Police Constable Manpreet Callo pleaded guilty to assault by beating – an offence under section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 – at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on December 3, 2025. The incident occurred on October 24, 2025, in Essex. According to court records, Callo grabbed the boy by the arm and attempted to give him money. Staff at a nearby leisure centre witnessed the encounter and intervened, challenging Callo. During the confrontation, Callo identified himself as a police officer and showed a photograph of himself in uniform. He was reportedly intoxicated at the time. Essex Police arrested him for common assault.
On January 12, 2026, Callo was sentenced to a £400 fine, £110 in costs, and ordered to pay £150 in compensation to the victim. He resigned from the City of London Police on March 25, 2026.
Misconduct Hearing
An accelerated misconduct hearing was held on April 14, 2026, after Callo’s resignation. The report, authored by Commissioner Peter O’Doherty, found that Callo’s actions represented “a clear breach of the Standards of Professional Behaviour, namely discreditable conduct”. The hearing determined that the breach amounted to gross misconduct. Commissioner O’Doherty stated that although Callo had resigned, had he still been serving he would have been dismissed. As a result, Callo has been placed on the College of Policing Barred List, preventing him from applying to any police force in England and Wales.
The specific nature of the discreditable conduct centred on Callo’s behaviour while off duty and intoxicated in a public place. He assaulted a child, identified himself as a police officer to witnesses, and attempted to give the victim money – actions the force said undermined public trust and confidence in policing. Detective Superintendent Thomas Hill, Head of the Professional Standards Department at the City of London Police, said: “Our thoughts are with the victim and all those affected by PC Callo’s actions. PC Callo was off duty and intoxicated when he assaulted a child in a public place. His actions have no place in the City of London Police and affect the public’s trust and confidence in policing.” He also expressed gratitude to the members of the public who raised concerns.
Commissioner Peter O’Doherty, who became the 17th Commissioner of the City of London Police in October 2024 after serving as Temporary Commissioner, authored the misconduct report. O’Doherty has a background in mathematics and computer science, joined the force in 2005, and has held senior roles including Assistant Chief Constable at Thames Valley Police and Assistant Commissioner for economic, fraud and cybercrime at the City of London Police. He also serves as the National Police Lead for Cyber and Economic Crime.
In separate misconduct hearings, the City of London Police has dealt with other officers found to have committed gross misconduct. Former PC Billy Luetchford was dismissed without notice for sending grossly offensive messages. Former Special Superintendent Christopher Fisher-Wight was dismissed without notice for making indecent images of children. A former officer, granted anonymity due to health concerns, was found to have committed gross misconduct for possessing indecent images of children and would have been dismissed and placed on the barred list. Former Chief Superintendent David Clark was found to have committed gross misconduct for breaches of honesty and integrity, obstruction of an investigation, and discreditable conduct, and would have been dismissed.
