Another serving Met Police officer has been charged with several rapes and other serious offences

A SERVING Met Police officer has been suspended after being charged with several offences.

PC Cliff Mitchell, aged 23 and attached to the West Area Basic Command Unit, was charged on Thursday, 7 September with six counts of rape, one count of making threats to kill and one count of breaching a non-molestation order.

He will appear in custody at Westminster Magistrates' Court on the morning of Thursday, 7 September.

An investigation was launched after officers were called at 13:50hrs on Tuesday, 5 September by a member of the public who had found a woman in distress in Longfield Avenue, near to the junction with London Road, in Hackbridge.

Officers were told that the woman had been attacked inside a residential property by a man who subsequently forced her into a car. They were known to one another.

Urgent enquiries were carried out and it was established that the suspect was a serving Met officer.

He was not on-duty at the time of the incident or his arrest.

The officer has been suspended from duty and a referral has been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy said: "These are horrific allegations and the victim is being supported by specially trained officers.

"Officers from the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards are investigating. They are highly experienced detectives specialising in investigating domestic abuse and sexual offences.

“This is an active investigation and enquiries continue at pace.”

“The arrest of a serving police officer on suspicion of such serious offences is extremely concerning and I recognise will cause considerable concern among London’s communities. I share those concerns and have made an immediate referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct."