The Metropolitan Police Commissioner has accused the justice system of putting the rights of paedophiles ahead of those of children, after an Enfield man who used artificial intelligence to generate nude images of women and girls was granted bail despite repeated objections from police and prosecutors.
Sir Mark Rowley took the unusual step of speaking out publicly outside Wood Green Crown Court after Zafer Dogan, 32, of Enfield, was jailed for two years and four months on Thursday 24 September 2026. Dogan was convicted of taking thousands of pictures of women and girls and using AI software to turn them into nude images for his own sexual gratification. London Streets reported on Dogan’s sentencing earlier this week.
Despite protests from police and prosecutors, Dogan was bailed back to his flat in Enfield, north London, which overlooked a children’s playground. The Met Police said that alongside the CPS it had opposed Dogan’s bail on three occasions, but the attempts were unsuccessful.
One family who had fallen victim to his crimes was so fearful they moved into temporary accommodation.
Addressing the media after attending the sentencing, Sir Mark said: “The children should be put first, not the paedophile.” He said officers felt “hamstrung” by “unfathomable decisions” granting the most prolific offenders bail.
Such an intervention from the head of the Met is highly unusual. It is rare for the Commissioner to attend a sentencing hearing at all, and rarer still for him to criticise the courts in such direct terms — a sign of how strongly the force feels about bail decisions for convicted offenders who remain a danger to the public.
“The pressure to reduce the remand population has contributed to more dangerous and prolific offenders being granted bail routinely despite strong submissions from the police and CPS,” he said.
“Victims are left fearful, and communities are left feeling less safe, and confidence in the justice system is undermined.”
The Commissioner also attacked AI companies as “grossly irresponsible”, saying: “Innovation cannot come at the expense of public safety, and industry has a clear responsibility to help prevent these technologies being exploited by predators.”
“Victims, in this case extremely young children and their families, deserve better from both the tech companies and the criminal justice system.”
The case follows a string of Met investigations into criminals exploiting AI, including the force’s recent takedown of an AI-powered phishing service. Sir Mark has repeatedly warned that predatory offenders are adapting their methods as new technology gives them fresh ways to target victims.
Reporting based on the PA wire story syndicated via Radio NewsHub and London Streets’ earlier coverage of the sentencing at Wood Green Crown Court.
