Second serving Met Police intelligence officer charged with child sex offence after separate probes

A SECOND serving Met Police officer involved in intelligence has been charged with a sexual offence concerning a child.

PC Will Scott-Barrett, who is based in the Met’s Intelligence command, will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court later today (Monday, December 20).

He was charged on Tuesday, November 16 following an investigation by the Met’s Online Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Command.

The charge relates to an allegation made in February 2021, and relates to conduct while PC Scott-Barrett was off duty.

The Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards has been informed.

PC Scott-Barrett was suspended from duty after the initial allegation was made.

It comes after a separate case in which a serving Metropolitan Police officer was charged with a number of child sex offences following an investigation by Hertfordshire Police.

Detective Constable Francois Olwage, 51, who is an intelligence officer attached to Specialist Operations, which is involved in national security and counter terrorism, was arrested at an address in Basingstoke on Thursday, October 28.

Later the same day, he was charged with the offences of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, attempting to cause/incite a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity, arranging/facilitating the commission of a child sex offence, meeting a girl under 16 years of age following grooming.

DC Olwage was remanded in custody to appear at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on Friday, October 29.

At a brief hearing he indicated he would deny all the charges.

The court heard it is alleged that the officer had been in conversations with an undercover officer posing as the 13-year-old girl and travelled to a Basingstoke hotel in the alleged hope of meeting her.

The case was adjourned for a further hearing at Winchester Crown Court.

A Met Police spokesman said: "The Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards has been informed and DC Olwage has been suspended.

"The matter has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct."

Detective Chief Superintendent Donna Smith, Directorate of Professional Standards, said: “The arrest of DC Olwage follows a comprehensive investigation by detectives from Hertfordshire Police and we will continue to offer them every support as their enquiries continue.

“He was suspended following his arrest for this serious and concerning offence. He has been charged and will now face criminal proceedings.

“It is important that nothing is said or published that could pose a risk to those proceedings.”