A detective in the Metropolitan Police child abuse investigation unit has been charged with child sex abuse offences. Detective Constable Chris Maitland who worked in the force’s sexual offences, exploitation and child abuse command is facing 14 charges. The 40 year old 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 unit he worked for, also known as Sapphire, investigates rapes and serious sexual violence. It also has a child abuse investigation team which is tasked with safeguarding youngsters. The detective who has been suspended from duty and is set to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday