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Patel charged in London
Detective Sergeant Prakash Patel, attached to the North West Command Unit of London’s Metropolitan Police, was charged with five counts of sexual assault on Friday, 24 July.
“will appear before Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday, 4 September”
The Metropolitan Police said it is alleged that one incident took place on an unspecified date in the summer of 2024, while the other four allegedly took place on Tuesday, 3 December 2024.
The charges relate to four women known to DS Patel, and the police said they continue to be supported by investigating officers.
Patel was arrested on Thursday, 24 April, 2025, following an investigation launched by the Central South Command Unit working alongside the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards, and he was suspended from duty on the same day.
Court date and process
The Met said DS Patel will appear before Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday, 4 September, after the case was referred to the Crown Prosecution Service which authorised charges.
Hindustan Times reported that Patel was arrested on April 24, 2025, following an investigation launched by the Central South Command Unit in collaboration with the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards, and that he was suspended from duty on the same day.
NDTV said the case now moves to court proceedings at Westminster Magistrates' Court, while police said the charges are allegations that will be considered through the criminal justice process and that no finding of guilt has been made.
The Metropolitan Police statement also said the charges relate to four women known to DS Patel and that they continue to be supported by investigating officers.
Allegations and wider cases
While Patel’s case proceeds, Hindustan Times also described a separate matter involving a 55-year-old British Airways cabin crew manager, Amardip ‘Amo’ Dhariwal, who was convicted of one count of sexual assault at Reading Crown Court.
“An 11-member jury unanimously found Amardip ‘Amo’ Dhariwal, 55, guilty”
Hindustan Times said Dhariwal was found guilty by an 11-member jury unanimously after a nine-day trial, and that he was released on strict conditional court bail and is due to be sentenced at the same court on October 29.
In that account, Hindustan Times said Dhariwal invited a female colleague in her twenties to his home in Bracknell in May 2022, and after she fell asleep on the sofa, she awoke to find him sexually touching her without her consent.
Hindustan Times quoted investigating officer Detective Constable Clare Hickman saying, "I would like to commend the courage of the victim in coming forward to report this offence".