A serving Metropolitan Police officer identified as PC Rupert Edwards has been charged with raping two different women within the span of 10 days.
The suspect who worked with the South West Basic Command Unit, was suspended from duty on September 5 over the incident which occurred while he was off-duty.
Edwards appeared in court today, December 9, after being charged this morning with two counts of rape one of a woman in her twenties, and the other of a woman in her thirties.
One of the incidents happened in Lambeth, south London on August 26, the other in Surrey, on September 5, both when he was off-duty.
Confirming the incident, Commander Jon Savell, in charge of 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.
“Legal proceedings are now active and it is important that I do not comment while that process takes place.”
A Met Police spokesperson said:
“PC Rupert Edwards, attached to the South West Basic Command Unit, was arrested on suspicion of rape of Monday, 5 September.
“He was bailed and suspended from duty. On Thursday, 8 December, he was further arrested on suspicion of rape. On Friday, 9 December, was charged with two counts of rape.
“He is due to appear in custody at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 9 December.
“The charges relate to two women aged in their 20s and 30s. They are being supported by specially trained officers.
“The offences are alleged to have occurred in Lambeth on Friday, 26 August, and in Surrey on Monday, 5 September, while the officer was off-duty.
“The Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards and the Independent Office for Police Conduct have been informed.”
