A serving Bedfordshire Police officer has appeared in court charged with child abduction and sexual exploitation.

PC Elliot Wright appeared at Hatfield Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, and has also been suspended from his role as a road policing officer.

The 29-year-old was arrested in Bedfordshire on Thursday night following reports of concern for a teenage girl, who has subsequently been safeguarded.

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Wright is also charged with misconduct in public office.

He was remanded into custody until his next hearing at St Albans Crown Court on April 23.

The matter has been passed to another force for independent investigation and referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.