A Metropolitan Police officer has been charged with rape following an alleged incident on Brighton seaside. Police have named him as 33-year-old Laurence Knight.
Sussex Police mentioned {that a} lady reported that she was raped on the seaside in Brighton on Saturday, July 17, 2021. Knight was subsequently arrested on suspicion of rape on July 28 and launched on bail.
He was summoned to court docket on Could 27, to look on June 23 to face a rape cost. Police mentioned Knight was not on responsibility on the time of the alleged offence, experiences PA.
The girl is being given specialist help, they added.
A press release from Sussex Police mentioned: “Sussex Police has arrested a person after a girl reported being raped on Brighton seaside on Saturday, July 17 2021. Laurence Knight, 33, who’s a Met Police officer, was arrested on suspicion of rape on July 28 and launched on bail. On Could 27 he was summoned to look at Brighton Magistrates’ Court docket on June 23 to face a cost of rape.
“The officer was not on responsibility on the time of the reported offence. The sufferer will proceed to obtain help from specialist officers all through the judicial course of.”
The Metropolitan Police mentioned Knight, a sergeant hooked up to Met Detention, had been suspended from responsibility.
Chief Superintendent Pete Gardner, in command of Met Detention, mentioned: “We all know folks will rightly be involved to listen to about this very severe cost in opposition to a serving police officer.
“We completely share that concern and I’m grateful to Sussex Police for his or her thorough investigation and the continued specialist help they’re offering to the sufferer.
“The Met’s Directorate of Skilled Requirements are totally conscious and misconduct issues shall be handled as soon as the prison proceedings have concluded. The officer is suspended from responsibility.”
Scotland Yard made a compulsory referral to the Impartial Workplace for Police Conduct, which decided the misconduct investigation needs to be led by the Met.
