Yahoo Finance Serving Met police officer charged with rape
A serving Metropolitan police officer has been charged with rape, which allegedly took place last weekend at a hotel in the City of London.
The Met named the officer as PC Adam Zaman, 28, and said the alleged rape of a woman took place on Sunday evening while Zaman was off duty. He was arrested the following day after a complaint to police.
The Met said the alleged attack took place in the part of London covered by the City of London force. Zaman is from Romford in east London.
The Met said the officer had been remanded in custody and would appear at Westminster magistrates court on Wednesday afternoon. Zaman has been suspended from duty and the police watchdog has been informed.
In a statement, the Met said: “The Met’s directorate of professional standards has been informed and PC Zaman has been suspended. The matter has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.”
Zaman is based in the east area command unit, covering the east of London. He was charged on Wednesday after an investigation by the City of London police.
The news that a serving Met officer has been charged with rape comes as Britain’s biggest force tries to improve the level of confidence women have in it after the murder of Sarah Everard. The Met accepts trust has been eroded after the case of a former Met officer, Wayne Couzens, who was convicted of Everard’s kidnap, rape and murder in September. After his sentencing the Met announced a review by Lady Louise Casey.
Announcing that review, the Met commissioner, Cressida Dick, said: “We recognise the grave levels of public concern following the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard and other deeply troubling incidents and allegations. I have said that we know a precious bond has been broken.”
The government has also announced its own inquiry.
After the news of Zaman being charged, DCS Paul Trevers, the policing commander for the east area command unit, said: “I recognise that the public will be concerned to hear that a serving police officer has been charged with such a serious offence. We absolutely share that concern. We acted swiftly when this allegation was reported to us and have fully supported what continues to be a thorough investigation by detectives from the City of London police. Specialist support is being provided to the complainant.
“PC Zaman has now been charged and it is important that criminal proceedings are allowed to take their course. Nothing should be said or reported which could put the integrity of those proceedings at risk.”
