Met Police officer charged with two counts of rape

A serving Metropolitan Police officer has been charged with two counts of rape.

PC Rupert Edwards, attached to the south west basic command unit, has been bailed and suspended from duty.

He will appear in custody at Westminster Magistrates’ Court today, (Friday, December 9).

The offences are alleged to have occurred in Lambeth on Friday, August 26, and in Surrey on Monday, September 5, while he was off-duty.

They relate to two women in their 20s and 30s who are being supported by specially trained officers.

Edwards was first arrested on suspicion of rape on Monday, September 5.

On Thursday, December 8, he was further arrested on suspicion of rape, and today (Friday, December 9), he was charged with two counts of rape.

Commander Jon Savell, from the Met’s professionalism command, said: "This news is deeply worrying and I recognise the concern it will cause the public and other police officers.

"We took immediate action to suspend PC Edwards from duty when he was first arrested in September.”

He added: "Legal proceedings are now active and it is important that I do not comment while that process takes place."

The Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) have been informed.