Sadiq Khan Officers Lose Guns & Taser in South London 2026

Key Points

• Armed Metropolitan Police officers protecting London Mayor Sadiq Khan allegedly left a bag containing firearms and a Taser on a south London street, discovered by a member of the public at around 9:40pm on Tuesday, 31 March 2026.
• The bag included an MP5 semi-automatic Heckler & Koch carbine, a Glock pistol, a Taser, and ammunition, as reported by The Sun.
• A scaffolder named Jordan Griffiths and his pregnant partner found the bag on a kerbside; his partner kicked it, prompting him to investigate and call police.
• Police arrived within seven minutes, safely recovered the items, and referred the incident to the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS).
• Five officers have been removed from frontline duties pending investigation.
• The Met Police described the bag as misplaced by on-duty officers shortly before discovery and is urgently reviewing circumstances.
• Sadiq Khan’s spokesperson called it a “very serious incident,” urging the Met to prevent recurrence.
• Khan, former MP for Tooting, receives 24-hour police protection since defeating Zac Goldsmith in 2016 to succeed Boris Johnson as mayor.

South London (South London News) April 4, 2026 – A member of the public discovered a bag containing Met Police-issued firearms and a Taser on a south London street, prompting an urgent investigation by the Metropolitan Police into officers protecting Mayor Sadiq Khan. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, 31 March, has led to five armed officers being removed from frontline duties as inquiries proceed.

The bag was found on a kerbside at approximately 9:40pm, with police responding within seven minutes to secure the items safely. The Met Police confirmed the referral to its Directorate of Professional Standards, highlighting the gravity of the lapse in handling protected weaponry.

What Exactly Happened on the South London Street?

The sequence of events unfolded rapidly on a quiet south London street. As detailed in the initial Met Police statement, a member of the public telephoned officers after spotting the unattended bag.

“At around 21:40hrs, a member of the public called police after finding a bag containing Met-issued firearms and a Taser on a street in south London,”

a Met spokesperson said, according to The Guardian’s coverage.

Within seven minutes, armed response teams arrived, recovering the bag without incident. The Met added:

“We are urgently reviewing the circumstances of this incident and recognise the concern it may cause. At this stage it is believed the bag was misplaced by on-duty officers a short time before the member of the public located it.”

Jordan Griffiths, a local scaffolder, provided a firsthand account to The Sun. He explained that his pregnant partner first noticed the bag.

“My partner saw the bag sitting in the road by the kerbside and became suspicious. She went over to it and kicked it to see what it might be. But it was really heavy and didn’t move,”

Griffiths told The Sun reporter.

Griffiths continued:

“It was lucky one of the guns inside didn’t go off or else she and our baby, due next month, could have been shot and killed.”

He described picking up the heavy bag, mistaking it initially for something innocuous like coins, carrying it inside, placing it on his bed, and opening it.

“I went out to have a look and picked up the bag and it was really heavy. I thought it might be full of coins and took it inside using both my hands because of its weight. I took it upstairs and put it on my bed and opened the bag up. I could not believe my eyes,”

he said.

This detailed testimony from Griffiths underscores the potential danger, as civilians handled lethal equipment unwittingly.

What Weapons Were in the Bag?

The contents of the bag were highly concerning, comprising specialist police weaponry. The Sun reported that it contained an MP5 semi-automatic Heckler & Koch carbine, a Glock pistol, a Taser, and ammunition. These items are standard for armed protection units, but their abandonment on public property raises serious questions about protocol adherence.

The Met Police spokesperson confirmed in statements to The Guardian that the items were

“Met-issued firearms and a Taser,” without initially specifying models. However, The Sun’s on-the-ground reporting from Jordan Griffiths filled in the details, attributing the exact inventory to police disclosures during the recovery.

No injuries occurred, but the presence of live ammunition amplified risks, especially given Griffiths’ account of his partner kicking the bag.

Which Officers Are Involved and What Actions Have Been Taken?

Five Metropolitan Police officers, part of the armed protection detail for Mayor Sadiq Khan, have been stood down from frontline duties. The Met Police announced on Friday:

“The Metropolitan police said on Friday it was investigating the incident and five officers had been removed from frontline duties while inquiries were being carried out,”

as covered by The Guardian.

The referral to the Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) signals a formal misconduct probe.

“We have made a referral to the Met’s directorate of professional standards following an incident which took place on Tuesday 31 March,”

the Met spokesperson stated.

This immediate removal from duties reflects standard procedure for potential breaches involving firearms, ensuring public safety during the review.

Why Was Sadiq Khan’s Protection Detail Involved?

The officers were on duty protecting London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who receives round-the-clock armed police security. Khan, the MP for Tooting before his 2016 election victory over Zac Goldsmith—succeeding Boris Johnson—has maintained this protection amid ongoing threats associated with his high-profile role.

A spokesperson for Khan responded swiftly:

“This is a very serious incident, which has been referred to the Met’s directorate of professional standards. The Met must now take all steps to ensure an incident like this never occurs again,”

as quoted in The Guardian.

The connection to Khan’s detail emerged from the Met’s confirmation that the bag belonged to on-duty officers, believed to have misplaced it shortly before discovery.

How Has the Public Reacted to the Incident?

Public concern has been palpable, particularly through Griffiths’ warnings about the near-miss with his pregnant partner.

“It was lucky one of the guns inside didn’t go off or else she and our baby, due next month, could have been shot and killed,”

he emphasised to The Sun, highlighting the human stakes.

The Met acknowledged this sentiment: “We recognise the concern it may cause,” in their official statement. Social media and local south London forums have buzzed with questions about officer accountability, though no formal public backlash or protests have been reported as of April 4, 2026.

Griffiths’ story, amplified by The Sun, has resonated widely, prompting calls for transparency in the DPS investigation.

What Is the Met Police’s Full Statement on the Matter?

The Metropolitan Police issued a comprehensive statement on Friday, synthesising details across reports. As per The Guardian:

“The Metropolitan police said on Friday it was investigating the incident and five officers had been removed from frontline duties while inquiries were being carried out.”

The full Met spokesperson quote reads:

“We have made a referral to the Met’s directorate of professional standards following an incident which took place on Tuesday 31 March. At around 21:40hrs, a member of the public called police after finding a bag containing Met-issued firearms and a Taser on a street in south London. Within seven minutes of the call to police, officers arrived at the scene and safely recovered the items. We are urgently reviewing the circumstances of this incident and recognise the concern it may cause. At this stage it is believed the bag was misplaced by on-duty officers a short time before the member of the public located it.”

This statement, consistent across The Guardian and The Sun, forms the backbone of official narrative.

Who Is Jordan Griffiths and What Did He Do Next?

Jordan Griffiths, a scaffolder from south London, emerged as the key witness. After his partner spotted the bag, he took decisive action. As he told The Sun:

“I went out to have a look and picked up the bag and it was really heavy… I took it upstairs and put it on my bed and opened the bag up. I could not believe my eyes.”

He promptly called police, enabling the swift recovery. Griffiths’ composure prevented escalation, though he later voiced relief that no harm came to his family, with his baby due next month.

What Does This Mean for Sadiq Khan’s Security?

Khan’s 24-hour protection remains intact, but the incident exposes vulnerabilities. The mayor’s spokesperson reiterated:

“The Met must now take all steps to ensure an incident like this never occurs again.”

As London’s mayor since 2016, Khan’s security is calibrated to specific threats, making any lapse particularly alarming. The ongoing review may prompt procedural enhancements.

When Did the Incident Take Place and Where Exactly?

The discovery occurred at about 9:40pm on Tuesday, 31 March 2026, on an unspecified kerbside in south London. Precise location details remain withheld, likely to protect the investigation, but reports confirm a residential street context from Griffiths’ account.

Police response time of seven minutes demonstrated efficiency post-call.

Will There Be Further Updates on the Investigation?

The Met’s DPS probe continues, with no timeline disclosed. Five officers remain off frontline duties, and the urgent review prioritises preventing recurrence. Updates will likely follow formal findings, amid public interest in accountability for protecting a mayor like Sadiq Khan.