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Five Met detectives have been arrested over an alleged plot to suppress a complaint of sexual assault by a policewoman against a senior officer.

Dramatic raids were carried out last week on the homes of the suspects and at police stations where they work.

One of those arrested is a detective inspector working on the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards. The news comes asa former Met Police officer was jailed for five and a half years for raping a woman.

In addition, those held also include a detective chief inspector, another detective inspector and a detective sergeant, reports The Sun.

It is alleged the male officers nobbled a complaint of sexual assault by the female cop against a governor at a CID party last Christmas.

The cover-up allegations surfaced in June and last Tuesday searches were carried out at 11 addresses.

'Worst since Wayne Couzens.'

The detectives - all based in North West London - were arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice, misconduct in public office and corrupt or improper exercise of police powers.

Computer equipment and mobile phones were seized in the coordinated swoops carried out by officers from the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS).

All the officers were bailed pending further inquiries.

It is understood the DPS officer arrested works in a local professional standards unit and has no connection with officers from the command who investigating him and the four others.

The DPS investigation is being supervised by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

In a separate but linked case, a detective inspector has been charged with perverting the course of justice by deleting his mobile phone.

One source described the alleged sex complaint nobbling plot as the "worst scandal to hit the Met's reputation since Wayne Couzens."

Rotten apples in the force

It comes as the Met continues a purge of rotten apples in the force ordered by Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley in the wake of a landmark report by Baroness Casey of Blackstock into the Met's culture and standards.

The peer's 2023 report branded the Met institutionally racist, homophobic and misogynistic.

It said a "boys' club" culture was rife in Britain's biggest force and accused the Met of failing to protect the public from officers who abuse women.

Baroness Casey's damning review of the Met was ordered following the March 2021 kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard by Met firearms officer Couzens, who had a history of flashing offences.

The report led to the Met's biggest purge in 50 years with more than 1,000 cops being suspended or placed on restricted duties.

Cover-up allegations

A source said: "The cover-up allegations go to the heart of the Casey report and what the Met has been trying to address over the past two-and-half years.

"A female made a complaint against a senior officer that he had sexually assaulted her at a Christmas party.

"It is claimed that a group of detectives, including one working on a local professional standards unit, then suppressed that investigation.

"It is the worst scandal to hit the Met's reputation since Wayne Couzens."

An IOPC spokesperson said: "We can confirm that five Met officers were arrested on Tuesday (19 August), as part of an IOPC-directed investigation.

"The investigation relates to the handling of internal allegations of sexual assault against an officer and involves four officers from the North-West Borough Command Unit and one officer from the Directorate of Professional Standards.

"Enquiries are being carried out by the Met's Anti-Corruption Command under our direction and control.

"A total of 11 search warrants took place on 19 August involving both residential addresses and police stations.

"The officers were advised that they are under investigation for potential offences which include perverting the course of justice, misconduct in public office and corrupt or improper exercise of police powers.

"They are also being investigated for potential gross misconduct.

"We began our directed investigation in June following a conduct referral from the Met.

"At the end of the investigation, we will decide whether to refer a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service for charging decisions and decide whether any officers should face disciplinary proceedings."

The IOPC spokesperson added: "On 22 August we were advised by the Met that it had charged an officer with perverting the course of justice, who appeared in court that day, in a matter that is linked to - but not currently part of - this investigation.

"Given proceedings are active it wouldn't be appropriate for us to comment further on this matter."

Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams, in charge of policing in north west London, said: "Five Metropolitan Police officers, four attached to the North West Borough Command Unit and one from the Directorate of Professional Standards were arrested on Tuesday, 19 August.

"They were arrested on suspicion of a range of offences, including perverting the course of justice, misconduct in public office and corrupt or improper exercise of police powers.

"This relates to the handling of an internal investigation into allegations of sexual assault against an officer.

"The investigation is being carried out by the Met's Anti-Corruption Command, under the direction of the IOPC, after a referral was made by the Met in June."

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