The Metropolitan Police is investigating allegations that two female officers were raped by a male colleague.

The male officer was not charged or suspended, but is to face a misconduct hearing, more than three years after the claims were made, a BBC investigation with the Bureau of Investigative Journalism found.

Both women were reportedly involved in "abusive" relationships with the unnamed officer, before being introduced to each other by a mutual friend.

The BBC said they made separate allegations of physical and sexual assault in 2017, which were denied by the male officer.

An investigation by Essex Police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) was then reportedly dropped in 2019 because of a lack of evidence.

One of the women, "Holly", whose name was changed by the BBC to protect her anonymity, told the broadcaster it was a "really bad investigation" with poor evidence-gathering.

She claimed Essex Police "didn't even finish taking all my allegations" and did not arrest the suspect.

In a statement to the BBC, Essex Police said that, although they carried out lengthy inquiries, they accept "there were areas for improvement in the management of these investigations".

The force added that the male officer was not arrested because "there was no immediate safeguarding concern due to the non-recent nature of the allegations and the lack of contact between suspect and victims".

"Holly" was last year awarded £17,100 in compensation by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), which said "police evidence indicates that you were a victim of sexual abuse".

Meanwhile, the other woman, "Kate", whose name has also been changed, received £11,600 in compensation from the CICA, saying she had been raped and subjected to "serious physical abuse".

The BBC said the Met decided last month that the male officer would face a misconduct hearing, though a date has not yet been set.

The force said in a statement to the BBC: "We take all allegations of domestic abuse extremely seriously and it is right and proper that the full circumstances of this case should be considered at a hearing.

"We continue to offer welfare support and assistance to the victims in this case."

The Met has recently faced criticism for the way it handled a vigil following the death of marketing executive Sarah Everard, 33, in South London.

The Met was later cleared of being heavy handed.