Police have arrested a 49-year-old man on suspicion of murder, six days after serving police officer PC Gordon Semple disappeared in the London Bridge area.
The 59-year-old Scot, who lived in Greenhithe in Kent, was last seen on 1 April. Detectives are searching a house on the Peabody estate in Southwark, south London, where they yesterday discovered human remains.
Police said while it was too early for a formal identification, the find is "devastating news for all those involved in the search for Gordon". Forensic work at the scene is still ongoing and a post mortem will be held later.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Semple, who worked in an anti-social behaviour unit attached to Westminster Council, attended a work meeting at the Shangri-La hotel, in the Shard, on 1 April. He left the meeting at 12.30pm and was last recorded on CCTV at 3pm in Great Guildford Street, Southwark. He was still on duty at the time.
His partner, Gary Meeks, reported him missing later that night.
Friend Mark Dighton told the Daily Mail that Meeks is being "supported by his step-mum and police". "They had been together for a long time," he said.
"I am devastated," he added." He was a very good friend of mine for a number of years."
-
Political cartoons for November 2Cartoons Sunday's political cartoons include the 22nd amendment, homeless camps, and more
-
The dazzling coral gardens of Raja AmpatThe Week Recommends Region of Indonesia is home to perhaps the planet’s most photogenic archipelago.
-
‘Never more precarious’: the UN turns 80The Explainer It’s an unhappy birthday for the United Nations, which enters its ninth decade in crisis
-
The failed bombings of 21/7The Explainer The unsuccessful attacks 'unnerved' London and led to a tragic mistake
-
Hainault sword attack: police hunt for motiveSpeed Read Mental health is key line of inquiry, as detectives prepare to interview suspect
-
Can the Met Police heal its relationship with the Black community?In depth Police chiefs accused of not doing enough to address reported institutional racism
-
Met Police clean-up: more than 1,000 officers suspended or on restricted duties'Eye-watering' figures show scale of challenge to restore public trust
-
Wimbledon school car crash: tributes pour in for eight-year-old as woman quizzedSpeed Read Officers question driver and study CCTV after child died in tragedy
-
What happened to Chris Kaba?Speed Read Suspension of police officer who fired fatal shot branded ‘far too little, far too late’
-
What happened to Owami Davies?Speed Read Student nurse found seven weeks after last sighting
-
What we know about the Copenhagen mall shootingSpeed Read Lone gunman had mental health issues and not thought to have terror motive, police say
