5 counts, 4 women: Indian-origin London Met police officer charged with sexual assault

An Indian-origin detective with the Metropolitan Police in London has been charged with five counts of sexual assault and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, UK police said. Five charges involve four women Detective Sergeant Prakash Patel, who is attached to the North West Command Unit of the Metropolitan Police, allegedly committed four offences on December 3, 2024, and a fifth during the summer of the same year.

The charges relate to four women known to Patel, and they are still supported by investigating officers, police stated. Met Police details allegations In a statement, the Met Police said, “DS Patel was charged on Friday, 24 July, with five counts of sexual assault. It is alleged that one of the incidents took place on an unspecified date in the summer of 2024, while the other four took place on Tuesday, 3 December 2024.” Patel arrested and suspended from duty The authorities said that, following the launch of an investigation by the Central South Command Unit alongside the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards, Patel was arrested in April last year and suspended from duty with immediate effect.

Crown Prosecution Service authorised charges The case against Patel has been referred to the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service, which authorised the charges last month. Met Police confirms 2025 arrest The Met Police, in a press release on Thursday, stated, “DS Patel was arrested on Thursday, 24 April, 2025, following the launch of an investigation by Central South Command Unit working alongside the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards.

He was suspended from duty on the same day.” (With inputs from agencies)