Kiwi police officer Matt Ratana, killed in the line of duty in London

A police officer shot at a South London police station was an expatriate New Zealander.

Matt Ratana died after he was shot by a person who was detained at the Croydon Custody Center at 2.13am local time Friday morning.

Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick confirmed he was killed during a press conference.

“It is now my sad duty to confirm that our colleague who was killed was Matt Ratana, a 54-year-old custodial sergeant,” he said.

“As a colleague, he was of great stature and big heart, a friendly and capable police officer.

“A charming man, highly respected by officers and staff, and by the public, including the suspects he arrested or treated in custody.”

Ratana was treated at the scene by officers and paramedics and was taken to hospital, but died overnight.

It was being investigated how the suspect, a 23-year-old man, was able to introduce a weapon into the police station.

Ratana is survived by a partner and an adult son from a previous relationship, Dick said.

Originally from Hawkes Bay, Ratana moved to the UK in 1989 to play rugby for the London Irish RFC.

Ratana went to school at Palmerston North Boy’s High School before attending the University of Otago, where he played for Ravensbourne RFC.

Ratana has recently been a coach at East Grinstead Rugby Club, where he has been described by friends as “inspiring” and “larger than life”.

“He helped a lot at the club. We lost funds and he came and helped us,” Ratana’s friend Paul told Sky News.

“It was inspiring, so vibrant, so bubbly, larger than life. It will be a great loss for the club.

“The man was a machine. He was training last night from 7 to 9 at night. That is the last time I saw him. He was scheduled to retire soon and I was looking forward to him.”

Police stations across the UK wave their flags at half mast and officers also observed a minute’s silence to honor Ratana.

The suspect was arrested by regular patrol officers for possession of ammunition and possession of class B drugs with the intention of stocking up on Pollards Hill after a stop and search.

He remains in the hospital in critical but stable condition.

Ratana was the captain of his recruits training class and had spent nearly 30 years as a uniformed officer in London, Dick said.

“He was posted to Charing Cross and worked as an agent on the streets of the West End and Westminster in various roles,” he said.

“Later, he worked with the Territorial Support Group and at Hillingdon.

“In 2010 he worked as a sergeant in Hackney on the response team and in the neighborhoods.

“Five years later, in 2015, he moved to Croydon, where he worked in response, in the neighborhoods and then in our detention command.”

Earlier today, the British Prime Minister sent his “deepest condolences” to Ratana’s family, friends and colleagues, saying “We owe a huge debt to those who risk their own lives to keep us safe.”

Following the death of the police officer in South London, Commissioner Cressida Dick has issued the following statement.

“This morning we learned of the shocking death of a much loved colleague, a Metropolitan Police sergeant who was working last night in our Croydon custody suite.

“I have visited and talked with our officer’s partner along with other colleagues. We are giving her the best support we can.

“My condolences to her, her family, colleagues and a wide circle of friends. I am thinking of everyone who has been involved and affected by this terrible event.

“We are all deeply shocked and saddened.

“The Met is a family. Police are a family, in London and across the UK, and today we are all mourning a great loss.

“I would like to thank our officers and staff along with colleagues from the London Ambulance Service, London Air Ambulance and all the medical staff that I know did everything they could to save your life.

“A murder investigation is underway and officers are working at various crime scenes to obtain evidence and establish the exact circumstances of this incident.

“We are working closely with the Independent Office of Police Conduct.

“The first indications are that the suspect shot himself. This has not yet been established as a fact. The man remains in critical condition in hospital.

“I understand that there is considerable interest in the identity of the officer, but we have not yet been able to inform his entire close family.

“Investigations will establish all the facts of what happened. I would ask everyone to show restraint when speculating about what happened.

“This terrible incident underscores once again how police officers face danger every day in their work to protect the public.

“I’ll give more information when I can later today.”