Detective Constable Francois Olwage, 51, from Stevenage, has been charged with:

Attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child
Attempting to cause/incite a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity
Arranging/facilitating the commission of a child sex offence
Meeting a girl under 16 years of age at a hotel following grooming

The charges are in connection with an allegation that DC Olwage engaged with an online profile he believed to be a 13 year old girl was in fact an undercover police officer.

DC Olwage was arrested in Basingstoke, Hampshire, on Thursday 28 October as a result of a proactive police investigation led by Hertfordshire Constabulary.

After his arrest, DC Olwage was suspended from the Met where he worked in a unit of Specialist Operations, the branch responsible for counter-terrorism, security and diplomatic protection.

In addition, the matter has been referred to the (IPCO) Independent Office for Police Conduct.

Following charge, he was remanded into custody.

Today (Monday 1 November), he appeared at Winchester Crown Court for a bail hearing and remains in custody.

He is set to appear again in court again on Friday 19 November. The judge also ordered restrictions on the reporting of DC Olwage’s street address in Stevenage.

Enquiries are continuing and are being led by Hertfordshire’s Child Online Safeguarding Team.