Detective working in abuse investigation unit charged with child sex offences

A Metropolitan Police officer working in a child abuse unit has been charged with child sex abuse offences.

Detective Constable Chris Maitland, who works in the force's Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command unit, faces 14 charges in total.

He is charged with two counts of sexual touching of a girl under 13 years; five counts of taking an indecent image of a child and seven counts of making an indecent image of a child.

The 40-year-old, who has been suspended from duty, is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday.