Former head of UK police watchdog charged with six counts of indecent assault and three offences of rape against a teenage girl

 

The former head of Britain's police watchdog has been charged with child sex offences including the alleged rape of a girl under the age of 16 in the 1980s.

 

Michael Lockwood, 64, is accused of six counts of indecent assault and three counts of rape against a girl under 16.

Today the Crown Prosecution Service authorised nine charges for alleged sex offences. Lockwood will appear at Hull Magistrates' Court on June 28.

 

He is accused of three counts of rape between October 1985 and March 1986 and six counts of indecent assault in the same period. The alleged victim was under the age of 16 at the time and Lockwood was around 26 or 27.

Rosemary Ainslie, Head of the Special Crime Division at the CPS, said: 'After carefully considering all of the evidence provided to us by Humberside Police, we have authorised charges against Michael Lockwood, 64, for nine offences under the Sexual Offences Act 1956.

 

'Mr Lockwood has been charged with six counts of indecent assault and three offences of rape against a girl under the age of 16, alleged to have been committed during the 1980s.

 

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

 

Mr Lockwood resignation in December made headlines.

Law firm PCB Byrne act on behalf of Michael Lockwood. Emma Brooks, Partner on this matter, said: ‘Mr Lockwood strenuously denies all of these allegations from nearly 40 years ago. He will strongly defend his position and will continue to co-operate with the proceedings.’

 

It is understood that he privately informed a Home Office official about the allegations on November 4 last year, and that chiefs within the body were first told about it in October.

 

An IOPC spokesman said today: 'We are aware of the CPS's decision to charge Michael Lockwood in relation to allegations relating to non-recent events.

 

'Mr. Lockwood was IOPC director general from 2018 to 2022, but as a Crown appointee, not employed by the IOPC.

'As criminal proceedings are active, we are unable to comment any further.'

 

Home Secretary Suella Braverman said in early December that she was forced to take 'immediate action' after being made aware of the police investigation.

 

She said at the time: 'I have accepted Michael Lockwood's resignation as director general of the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

'I took immediate action upon being made aware that Mr Lockwood was the subject of a police investigation into an historic allegation, and instructed my officials to ask him to resign or face immediate suspension from his role.'

 

The IOPC told the PA news agency: 'We will be conducting a review to determine whether appropriate steps were taken at appropriate times.'

Mr. Lockwood was the first director general appointed to lead the IOPC when it replaced the Independent Police Complaints Commission in 2018.

 

He was previously chief executive of the London Borough of Harrow in north-west London.