A Metropolitan police officer is facing a criminal charge of misconduct after allegedly stealing money from the body of a man who had died in the street.
PC Craig Carter, 51, has been charged with misconduct in public office over the alleged incident in September 2022.
The officer, who lives in Harlow in Essex, appeared at Westminster magistrates court in central London on Friday to face the allegation for the first time.
It is alleged PC Carter “willfully and without reasonable excuse or justification misconducted yourself in a way which amounted to an abuse of the public's trust in the office holder by stealing cash from a deceased male who has passed away in the street”.
The alleged incident is said to have happened between September 7 2022 and September 14 2022 in the borough of Haringey in north London.
Wearing a blue suit and patterned blue tie, PC Carter spoke only to confirm his name, age and address during the court hearing.
Judge Louisa Cieciora said the case was too serious to be heard at a magistrate’s court.
She sent the matter to Wood Green crown court, where PC Carter will next appear on July 26.
The officer, who works for the Met’s North Area Command Unit which covers Enfield and Haringey, has been suspended from duty.
It is said PC Carter was acting “as a public officer, namely police constable” at the time of the alleged offence.
Scotland Yard confirmed: “A serving police officer has been charged with misconduct in public office.
“PC Craig Carter, who is attached to the North Area Command Unit, wascharged via postal charge requisition.
“He will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 28 June.
“The charge relates to the alleged theft of money from a man who diedfollowing a collapse in September 2022.
“Following the charge, PC Carter was suspended from duty.”
Carter has been released on unconditional bail until the next hearing.
He is accused of being a holder of a public office willfully neglecting to perform a duty or willfully misconducting himself.
