By Lucy Caulkett-
Former IOPC Director General Michael Lockwood(pictured) has been charged with rape and indecent assault.
The former Director General of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has been charged with nine sexual offences allegedly committed during the 1980s, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.
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The 64-year-old stepped down from his role at the IOPC in December after it emerged he was the subject of a police probe into a historical allegation.
Lockwood was the first director general appointed to lead the IOPC when it replaced the Independent Police Complaints Commission in 2018.
The offences are alleged to have taken place between October 1985 and March 1986.
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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.”
Lockwood was previously chief executive of the London Borough of Harrow.
After the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire, he was asked by a government taskforce to lead recovery and remediation work and liaise with bereaved families, survivors and the wider community.
After Lockwood stepped down last year, the IOPC announced it was conducting a review to “determine whether appropriate steps were taken” before his resignation.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman said at the time that she took “immediate action” after she was made aware he was the subject of a police investigation and instructed her officials to ask him to resign or face immediate suspension.
He is due to appear before magistrates in Hull on 28 June.
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 CPS reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against Mr Lockwood are active and that he has the right to a fair trial.”
Mr Lockwood is charged with six offences of indecent assault between October 1985 and March 1986 contrary to section 14(1) and schedule 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 1956, and three offences of rape between October 1985 and March 1986 contrary to section 1(1) and schedule 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 1956.
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