A serving Metropolitan Police officer has been charged in connection with a rape that is reported to have taken place in St Albans.

PC David Carrick, 46, of Stevenage, appeared via video link at Hatfield Magistrates’ Court today (October 4), the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.

The Met said PC Carrick, who is based within the Met’s Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command, was charged with rape by Hertfordshire Constabulary on Sunday (October 3).

Hertfordshire Constabulary said the alleged offence is reported to have occurred on September 4 2020 in St Albans and that the officer was off-duty at the time of the alleged rape.

In court today, PC Carrick "emphatically denied" attacking a woman he met on dating app Tinder after the pair went for drinks in St Albans.

PC Carrick, who is currently suspended from duty, is due to appear at St Albans Crown Court on November 1. He has been remanded in custody.

PC Carrick was arrested on Saturday (October 2) by Hertfordshire Constabulary and suspended the same day by the Metropolitan Police.

The Met said it awaits the outcome of criminal proceedings, adding that a referral has been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

Ahead of today's hearing, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said: "I am deeply concerned to hear the news today that an officer from the Met’s Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command has been arrested and now charged with this serious offence.

"I fully recognise the public will be very concerned too.

"Criminal proceedings must now take their course so I am unable to comment any further at this stage."

Malcom McHaffie, the chief crown prosecutor of CPS Thames and Chiltern, said: "The CPS has today authorised Hertfordshire Constabulary to charge serving Metropolitan Police officer David Carrick, 46, with one count of rape following an alleged attack on a woman on the night of 4 September 2020.

"The defendant’s first court appearance will take place via video link at 10am tomorrow at Hatfield Magistrates’ Court.

"The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against the defendant are active and that he has a right to a fair trial.

"It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings."