Serving Metropolitan Police officer charged with six rapes

Following an assault where a woman was forced into a car, a serving Metropolitan Police officer was charged with rape and making death threats.

Pc Cliff Mitchell, age 23, was charged with six counts of rape, one count of uttering death threats and one count of violating a no-molestation order, according to Scotland Yard.

According to the police, an investigation was launched on Tuesday when a member of the public called to report seeing a frightened woman in Hackbridge, southwest London.

A Met statement said: “Officers were told that the woman had been attacked inside a property by a man who subsequently forced her into a car.”

When Mitchell was subsequently detained in connection with the event, he was not working.

On Thursday, he was charged.

Met Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy said: “These are horrific allegations and the victim is being supported by specially trained officers.

“Officers from the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards are investigating.

“This is an active investigation and inquiries continue at pace.

“The arrest of a serving police officer on suspicion of such serious offences is extremely concerning and I recognise will cause considerable concern among London’s communities.

“I share those concerns and have made an immediate referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.”

Mitchell will appear in detention at Westminster Magistrates’ Court and is a member of the Met’s West Area Basic Command Unit.

His employment has been suspended.

The announcement reporting the charge from the force omitted Mitchell’s address.