London – The former head of the U.K.’s police watchdog, Michael Lockwood, has been charged with three counts of rape against a minor below the age of 16, according to Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service. He also faces six counts of indecent assault.
From 2018 to 2022, Lockwood served as the head of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which investigates serious complaints against police in England and Wales. The IOPC focuses on cases such as deaths following police contact and sets standards for handling complaints, as stated on its website.
Following the investigation into Lockwood’s alleged actions, he resigned from his position in December of last year.
The charges against Lockwood relate to incidents that reportedly occurred between October 1985 and March 1986, when he was in his 30s. He is scheduled to appear in court on June 28. Emma Brooks, partner at the law firm PCB Byrne, stated that Lockwood vehemently denies all the allegations made against him from nearly 40 years ago, as reported by BBC News.
These charges come amidst a series of high-profile crimes committed by police officers that have undermined public trust in the U.K.’s law enforcement and sparked protests across the country. One such case involved off-duty officer Wayne Couzens, who kidnapped, raped, and murdered Sarah Everard, a 33-year-old woman. Prior to this heinous crime, Couzens had faced multiple accusations of indecent exposure but was still allowed to continue working.
Earlier this year, another police officer named David Carrick admitted to committing 24 counts of rape and sexual offenses against 12 women. He was sentenced to a minimum of 30 years in prison.
A recent report by journalists at The Bureau of Investigative Journalism revealed that over the past five years, more than 300 U.K. police officers have been reported for rape – an alarming average of one officer per week. Additionally, over 500 officers have been reported for sexual assault. The report states that ten officers have been convicted of sexual assault, while 350 of those reported are still actively serving in the police force. Furthermore, 250 officers have been reported multiple times.
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