Senior serving Bedfordshire Police officer appears in court to face multiple rape charges

A serving police officer, whose work was recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours List, has appeared in court charged with a string of offences including rape and coercive and controlling behaviour. 

Temporary Supt Mo Aziz of Bedfordshire Police was charged with four counts of rape, two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and coercive and controlling behaviour when he appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court.

He was also charged with causing a female to engage in sexual activity, and two counts of disclosing or threatening to disclose private sexual photographs/film with intent to cause distress.

Aziz, 48, gave no indication of pleas to the charges but the court heard he denies the allegations.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between 2015 and 2022, and are all against the same alleged victim.

District Judge Briony Clarke granted him bail ahead of his next appearance at Southwark Crown Court on June 21, when he is expected to enter formal pleas.

Aziz must not contact the complainant or other prosecution witnesses, cannot attend two named addresses, and must surrender his passport.

The officer was awarded the British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 2020 for his work to improve diversity in Bedfordshire Police.

A spokesman for Bedfordshire Police said: "We are committed to keeping women and girls safe and expect the highest standards of professionalism and integrity from our officers and staff.

"T/Supt Aziz was arrested on the day the allegations were first made in July last year and was immediately suspended.

"For transparency we referred the matter to an independent force to investigate."

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