Met Police detective charged with five sexual assaults in Barnet
Detective Sergeant Prakash Patel will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 4 September 2026
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A Metropolitan Police detective suspended in April has been charged with five counts of sexual assault. Detective Sergeant Prakash Patel, who serves in the North West Command Unit covering Barnet, will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 4 September 2026.
The Crown Prosecution Service authorised the charges against Patel on 24 July 2026. Four of the alleged assaults occurred on 3 December 2024, while the fifth is said to have taken place in summer 2024. All involve women known to Patel, as reported by the Barnet Post.
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Arrest and suspension
Patel was arrested on 24 April 2025 following an investigation by the Met’s Central South Command Unit and the Directorate of Professional Standards. He was suspended from duty the same day. The case was later referred to the Crown Prosecution Service for a charging decision.
The Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards oversees internal investigations into police conduct. A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said the force takes allegations of this nature extremely seriously and that Patel remains suspended pending the outcome of legal proceedings.
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Next steps in the case
Patel’s first court appearance is scheduled for 4 September 2026 at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. The charges relate to offences under the Sexual Offences Act 2003. It is unclear whether Patel will enter a plea at this stage.
If the case proceeds to trial, it will be heard at a Crown Court. No date has been set for a potential trial. The Metropolitan Police has not disclosed further details about the investigation, citing ongoing legal proceedings.
Questions this report answers
+Who is Detective Sergeant Prakash Patel?
Detective Sergeant Prakash Patel is a Metropolitan Police officer attached to the North West Command Unit, which covers Barnet. He has been charged with five counts of sexual assault and is currently suspended from duty.
+When did the alleged assaults take place?
Four of the alleged assaults occurred on 3 December 2024, and the fifth is said to have taken place in summer 2024. All involve women known to Patel, as reported by the Barnet Post.
+What happens next in the case?
Patel will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 4 September 2026. If the case proceeds, it will be heard at a Crown Court. No trial date has been set, and the Metropolitan Police has not released further details.
+Was Patel suspended from duty?
Yes, Patel was suspended from duty on 24 April 2025, the same day he was arrested. The suspension remains in place while legal proceedings are ongoing, as confirmed by the Metropolitan Police.
Barnet Press News Desk
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