A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after detectives looking for the missing policeman Gordon Semple found human remains at a London house.
“This is obviously a significant development,” Scotland Yard said in a statement, adding that it was “devastating news for all those involved in the search for Gordon”.
The 49-year-old’s arrest came after officers were called to an address on the Peabody Estate in Southwark, south London, “where human remains were discovered”. The man has not been named.
The Metropolitan Police constable from Greenhithe, Kent, was last seen on 1 April after attending a work meeting at the Shard’s Shangri-La Hotel. The force later released a CCTV image of him in central London shortly afterwards.
His partner reported him missing later that night.
His niece Kerry Nicholas had earlier described him as “a very outgoing, sociable guy. Very happy-go-lucky.”
The 59-year-old was originally from Inverness and worked with the force’s antisocial behaviour unit in Westminster. He had no children but still had family in Scotland.
The case was originally treated as a high-risk missing person’s inquiry.
Police said they would “not speculate any further on what may have happened or possible motive,” adding that “a post-mortem will be held in due course.”
They added: “Our work at that scene is crucial to ensure we capture all available evidence and this may take some time.”
Police are asking anyone with information to call the incident room on 020 8721 4961, or to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
