Two police firearms were left unattended outside London Mayor Sadiq Khan's home by officers from his personal security detail, sparking an urgent Metropolitan Police investigation into the serious security breach.
A member of the public discovered the weapons and alerted authorities, telling Sky News the lapse had "let everyone down". The incident has raised immediate questions about police conduct and public safety protocols surrounding high-profile political figures.
The Met has launched an internal investigation to determine how the firearms came to be abandoned and to identify the officers responsible. Such incidents involving uncontrolled weapons in public spaces are rare and treated with the utmost seriousness due to risks of misuse and damage to public trust.
The discovery has triggered a review of operational procedures for officers assigned to protective security duties. The Mayor's office is understood to be cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation but has not yet issued a detailed statement.
The security breach comes amid heightened public scrutiny of police standards and accountability. The Metropolitan Police now face pressure to demonstrate robust internal controls and reassure the public that such critical errors will not be repeated.
The investigation will examine training protocols, equipment handling procedures, and supervision levels within the protective security command. Its outcome will be closely watched by both the public and other security organisations, as it raises broader questions about the rigour of security operations for public figures across the UK.