Tributes have poured in for Met Police Sergeant Matiu Ratana after he was shot dead on duty at a Croydon custody centre in the early hours of Friday.

Sgt Ratana, known as Matt to family and friends, thought working in the custody suite was his "safest option" as he neared the end of his lengthy police career, friend Neil Donohue said.

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New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern paid tribute to Sgt Ratana on Facebook, calling his death "very sad".

She added: "To all Matiu's whanau (extended family) across the world, we share your sorrow and have all our condolences."

One friend said the officer was looking forward to retirement and told the PA news agency: "I think he earned his stripes, if you ask me."

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said he was a long-serving and "much-loved" officer.

She described him as "big in stature, big in heart, friendly, capable, a lovely man and highly respected by his colleagues".

He leaves behind a partner and an adult son from a previous relationship.

Investigations are continuing into how the 23-year-old gunman, who had been detained for possession of ammunition and possession of class B drugs, was able to access the weapon.

The handcuffed suspect opened fire on Sgt Ratana inside the Croydon Custody Centre before turning the gun on himself at around 2:15am.

The suspect is currently in hospital in a critical but stable condition, whilst tributes have been pouring in from across UK police forces and beyond.

 

 

Friend Mr Donohue told BBC Breakfast: "He thought it was his safest option just to see him through to his retirement and no-one expected this to happen - certainly not within the police cells."

He described the officer as "the most nicest, generous man you could meet", and said he was "just a really genuinely nice guy".

Sgt Ratana, 54, was originally from New Zealand and joined the force in 1991.

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Met Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick, who with the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, led police officers across the capital in a minute's silence on Friday, described Sgt Ratana as a "talented police officer".

He was "big in stature, big in heart, friendly, capable, a lovely man and highly respected by his colleagues", and leaves behind a partner and adult son, Dame Cressida said.

 

 

His partner's sister told The Sun he was aware of the dangers of being a police officer but saw it as "all part of the job".

Describing the news of his death as "devastating", she told the newspaper: "He was dedicated to being a police officer and had almost 30 years of service.

"He knew the dangers of working in London but for him it was all part of the job."

Matt was also the head coach at East Grinstead Rugby Club, and chairman Bob Marsh and President Andy Poole paid an emotional tribute to him, as well as asking for time to comprehend what had happened.

"East Grinstead Rugby Football Club are utterly devastated to hear the tragic news that the Police Sergeant who lost his life in Croydon, was our Head Coach, Matt Ratana.

"Matt was an inspiring and much-loved figure at the club and there are truly no words to describe how we are feeling.

"Our deepest and sincerest condolences go to Matt’s loved ones, family, friends, colleagues and to our community rugby family at this most terrible time."

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Another to pay tribute was Hackney Police, where Matt previously worked.

The force said: "For years this man, this hero, this skipper was the centrepiece of community policing in Hackney. He shaped the lives of many. Be that victims, suspects or colleagues.

"Sgt Ratana was the best. Gone, but most definitely not forgotten."

No police firearms were fired in the incident, and the case is not being treated as terror-related.

The suspect was not regarded a subject of interest by security services, the PA news agency understands, but reports suggest he may have previously been referred to the anti-extremism Prevent programme.

He was arrested by regular officers following a stop and search, then handcuffed behind his back before being taken to the station in a police vehicle.

A murder probe has been launched and investigators from the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) watchdog attended the scene.

 

 

Leroy Logan, a former Met superintendent, said there were questions to be answered around the circumstances which led to the shooting.

"How did that person come to be in the station, whether it's in the yard or the building itself, and be able to produce a weapon, whether it's on them at the time?" he told BBC News.

Sgt Ratana is the eighth police officer in the UK to be shot dead in the last 20 years and the first to be murdered by a firearm in the line of duty since Pcs Fiona Bone, 32, and Nicola Hughes, 23, in September 2012.

The Met sergeant is the 17th from the force to be killed by a firearm since the end of the Second World War, according to the National Police Memorial roll of honour.