A Metropolitan police officer serving in the parliamentary and diplomatic protection command has been charged with rape. PC David Carrick, 46, of Stevenage, allegedly attacked a woman in St Albans on the night of 4 September 2020 while off-duty. Dame Cressida Dick, Metropolitan police commissioner, said she was “deeply concerned” by the news. “I fully recognise the public will be very concerned too,” she added. “Criminal proceedings must now take their course, so I am unable to comment any further at this stage.” Parliamentary and diplomatic protection command officers guard government-owned buildings, including the Palace of Westminster, and embassies. Carrick was charged on Sunday, having been arrested by Hertfordshire constabulary and subsequently suspended by the Met on 2 October. He remains in custody and will appear via video link at Hatfield magistrates court on Monday. The Met said it was awaiting the outcome of criminal proceedings, and that a referral had been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct. Malcolm 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 [on Monday] 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.”