Senior Metropolitan Police officer arrested in front of shocked colleagues on suspicion of rape

A senior armed police officer was arrested on suspicion of rape in front of his shocked colleagues.

The unnamed officer, who was due to retire soon, is understood to have been taken into custody at a firearms training base in Gravesend, Kent.

The veteran inspector was being held on suspicion of rape and other offences allegedly committed over a period of ten years, a Metropolitan Police spokesman said.

He was suspended from duty and placed on bail until September, pending further investigations.

A Met spokesman said: “A serving Met officer has been arrested on suspicion of rape and other offences.

“The officer, an inspector from the Met’s specialist firearms command, was arrested on Monday 24 June.

“The offences are believed to have taken place between 2013 and 2023. He has been released on bail and is expected to return in mid-September, pending further enquiries.

“He was suspended from his duties.”

Police also confirmed that the matter had been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

An IOPC spokesperson added: “We received a mandatory referral from the Metropolitan Police Service on 26 June 2024 following the arrest earlier in the week of a Met officer suspected of multiple offences.

“Having carefully considered the referral, we have decided that given that the officer has already been arrested and interviewed by the Metropolitan Police Professional Standards Directorate, the Metropolitan Police should continue their investigation.”