Man, 23, arrested on suspicion of the murder of Sergeant Matt Ratana

Sgt Matt Ratana Credit: PA

A 23-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of Sergeant Matt Ratana, the Metropolitan Police said.

Sgt Ratana was shot at Croydon Custody Centre in south London in the early hours of September 25.

He was taken to hospital but later died from his wounds.

The Metropolitan Police said that a 23-year-old man, who had been arrested for a separate offence, was detained by officers at the centre in Windmill Lane and taken by ambulance to hospital with a gunshot wound.

There was an outpouring of tributes after Sgt Ratana's murder Credit: PA

The man’s condition, originally critical, has since “stabilised” and is “no longer considered life-threatening”, the force said in a statement.

Police said the man was considered fit to be arrested on suspicion of murder on Friday.

The man remains in hospital and officers will liaise with medical and legal teams in assessing when he will be fit for interview, police said.

After the arrest was made Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick said: “Matt’s loss hit the Met and the wider world everywhere very hard.

“He was a great officer with wonderful qualities and so many people have been impacted by his loss and will miss him a lot.

“You are aware a person was arrested for other offences before that, and after Matt was killed that person went to hospital.

“They have been very unwell but their condition has now stabilised and improved sufficiently for us to be able to arrest him for murder today."

Sgt Ratana was killed when he was shot by a handcuffed suspect at Croydon Custody Centre in south London in the early hours of September 25.

After Sgt Ratana was killed there was an outpouring of support from across the UK and his home country of New Zealand.