Enfield: Serving Met Police ‘Safer Schools’ officer pleads guilty to child sexual offences

PC Hussain Chehab was a Safer Schools officer attached to an Enfield secondary school.
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A Met Police officer serving in a ‘Safer Schools’ role has pleaded guilty to child sexual offences.

PC Hussain Chehab, 22, attached to North Area Command Unit, pleaded guilty at Wood Green Crown Court on Tuesday to four counts of sexual activity with a girl aged 13-15. These offences took place between March and September 2019, and pre-dated his service in the Met.

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He also admitted three counts of making indecent photographs of a child and one count of engaging in sexual communication with a child.

The Met said “some of the image offences” were committed while Chehab was in a role as a Safer Schools officer attached to a secondary school in Enfield between May 2021 and his arrest in August 2021.

The force said “no evidence has been found linking any of Chehab’s offending to his role”.

No verdict was recorded in a further four counts of making indecent photographs of a child and the judge ordered they be left to lie on file.

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Chehab was released on bail for sentencing at the same court on March 17.

The Met Police said an accelerated misconduct process has been initiated, and Detective Chief Superintendent Caroline Haines, lead for policing in Enfield, said: “Our thoughts foremost today are with the young girls who Chehab exploited and took advantage of for his own sexual gratification.”

She said that once the allegations were made, Chehab was immediately removed from his Safer Schools role while the investigation took place.

“We have worked closely with the school concerned, and Enfield local authority, to ensure that there were no further unreported safeguarding incidents or missed opportunities,” she said.

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“A review of the information provided to the Met prior to him joining as a police officer was carried out and nothing was found that could have indicated his offending.

“Prior to commencing his role as a Safer Schools officer he was also subject to further child and vulnerable group supervision vetting, in line with the current vetting standards for all those who work with children and young persons.

“This news will of course cause considerable damage and concern, not only to the local community, but Londoners as a whole, who place their trust in police officers to go into our schools alongside their children every day and keep them safe.

“While no evidence has been found linking any of Chehab’s offending to his role, we are engaging with our local schools, community forums and independent advisory groups to reassure them following the damage his actions will have caused.

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“The Met continues to ruthlessly target those who corrupt our identity. We have made it clear there is no place for the likes of PC Chehab in the Met and will take quick and immediate action to arrest and prosecute anyone who commits such abhorrent criminal acts, and will work to quickly remove them from the organisation.”

PC Chehab joined the Met on March 30, 2020. The Met said his offending came to light in July 2021, when the family of a 16-year-old girl raised concerns that she had been in a relationship with Chehab - which they believed began when she was aged 15.

He was arrested on August 24, 2021. He was placed on restricted duties, working in a police building in a non public-facing role. The Met said he was not allowed contact with schools or children.

When his devices were examined, indecent images were found and he was further arrested on October 28, when he was suspended from duty.

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Analysis of further devices revealed messages between PC Chehab and a 14-year-old girl engaging in sexual communication. She later provided evidence to police that they had entered into a sexual relationship in 2019.

He was charged on September 13.

An NSPCC spokesperson said: “It is very concerning that PC Chehab was working in an official police role with children whilst committing child sex offences.

“Child sexual abuse can have a devastating and long-lasting effect on a person’s life, and we hope that the girls he targeted are receiving the support they need to move forward from PC Chehab’s deeply harmful actions.

“It is so important that those who have experienced abuse are empowered to speak out regardless of who the perpetrator is or how many years have passed.

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“Adults who have suffered child abuse or are concerned about a child can speak to a trained child protection specialist at the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000, while Childline is there for young people on 0800 1111 or www.childline.org.uk.”

Anyone with any information about a police officer or member of staff who works for the Met and is corrupt, abusing their position and power, can call the Anti-Corruption and Abuse Hotline, run by Independent charity Crimestoppers, on 0800 085 0000 or complete the online form at www.crimestoppers-org.uk.