Met Police officer charged with child sex offences
A serving Metropolitan Police officer has appeared in court charged with a number of child sex offences.
Det Con Francois Olwage, 51, from Stevenage, allegedly arranged to meet a girl he believed to be 13 years old, Hertfordshire Police said.
He was arrested in Basingstoke, Hampshire, on Thursday and appeared at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court earlier.
The officer spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth but not guilty pleas were indicated on all counts.
He 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 following grooming
It was alleged the offences took place between 14 and 28 October.
Det Con Olwage was granted unconditional bail and a further hearing is due to take place at Winchester Crown Court on 1 December.
Hertfordshire Police said Det Con Olwage, who works in “specialist operations” at the Met, had been suspended.
The matter had been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct and inquiries were ongoing, the force said.
Det Ch Supt Donna Smith, of the Met’s directorate of professional standards, said: “The arrest of DC Olwage follows a comprehensive investigation by detectives from Hertfordshire Police and we will continue to offer them every support as their inquiries continue.
“He was suspended following his arrest for this serious and concerning offence.
“He has been charged and will now face criminal proceedings.
“It is important that nothing is said or published that could pose a risk to those proceedings.”