A serving Metropolitan police officer has been charged with rape after an alleged incident on Brighton beach last year. Laurence Knight, 33, was arrested on 28 July 2021 after a woman reported being raped 11 days earlier.

Sussex police said the officer has been summoned to appear at Brighton magistrates court on 23 June. The force added that Knight was not on duty at the time of the alleged offence.

A statement said: “Sussex police has arrested a man after a woman reported being raped on Brighton beach on Saturday, 17 July 2021.

“Laurence Knight, 33, who is a Met police officer, was arrested on suspicion of rape on 28 July and released on bail. On 27 May he was summoned to appear at Brighton magistrates court on 23 June to face a charge of rape.

“The officer was not on duty at the time of the reported offence. The victim will continue to receive support from specialist officers throughout the judicial process.”

The Met said Knight, a sergeant attached to Met Detention, had been suspended from duty. Chief Supt Pete Gardner, in charge of Met Detention – the force’s custody command unit – said: “We know people will rightly be concerned to hear about this very serious charge against a serving police officer.

“We absolutely share that concern and I am thankful to Sussex police for their thorough investigation and the continued specialist support they are providing to the victim.

“The Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards are fully aware and misconduct matters will be dealt with once the criminal proceedings have concluded.”

Scotland Yard made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which determined the misconduct investigation should be led by the Met.