A serving Metropolitan police officer has been charged with a rape alleged to have taken place last weekend.

The Met said the officer charged was PC Adam Zaman, 28, and the incident was alleged to have taken place on Sunday evening. The force said Zaman was off duty when the alleged rape occurred and was arrested the following day following a complaint to police.

The Met said the officer had been remanded in custody and would appear at Westminster magistrates court on Wednesday afternoon. Zaman has been suspended from duty and the police watchdog has been informed.

The Met said the alleged incident took place in the part of London covered by the City of London force.

In a statement, the Met said: “The Met’s directorate of professional standards has been informed and PC Zaman has been suspended. The matter has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.”

Zaman is based in the east area command unit, covering the east of London. He was charged on Wednesday following on investigation by the City of London police.

DCS Paul Trevers, the policing commander for the east area command unit, said: “I recognise that the public will be concerned to hear that a serving police officer has been charged with such a serious offence. We absolutely share that concern.

“We acted swiftly when this allegation was reported to us and have fully supported what continues to be a thorough investigation by detectives from the City of London police. Specialist support is being provided to the complainant.

“PC Zaman has now been charged and it is important that criminal proceedings are allowed to take their course. Nothing should be said or reported which could put the integrity of those proceedings at risk.”

Zaman was from the Romford area of east London, City of London police said.

A spokesperson for the force said: “A man has been charged after officers received a report of a rape which is alleged to have occurred in the City of London on Sunday 24 October.

“Adam Zaman, 28, of Romford, has been charged with rape and has been remanded in custody to appear at Westminster magistrates court on Wednesday 27 October.”