A high-ranking serving Bedfordshire Police officer, who was awarded the British Empire Medal in 2020 by the Queen in her birthday honours for services to diversity, is due to appear in court today (Wednesday) charged with a number of offences including rape.

Temporary Superintendent Mo Aziz, 48, will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court charged with:

• Four counts of rape
• Two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm
• Coercive and controlling behaviour
• Causing a female to engage in sexual activity
• and two counts of disclosing or threatening to disclose private sexual photographs/films with intent to cause distress.

The matters are alleged to have taken place between 2015 and 2022.

A spokesperson 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.”