Rapist David Carrick’s police colleagues face investigation as watchdog questions Met’s handling of case
The Metropolitan Police is facing multiple investigations after a watchdog criticised the force’s handling of reports of serious criminal offences committed by serial rapist David Carrick while he was an officer.
An internal review carried out by Scotland Yard previously concluded not a single officer should be subject to disciplinary proceedings for failing to deal with the allegations appropriately.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it decided to take the “unusual step” to intervene after it conducted its own review and found enough evidence to launch four separate investigations into eight Met officers, and one staff member.
Scotland Yard bosses had claimed any mistakes made when investigating Carrick were down to “processes and approaches” rather than the failings of individuals.
Carrick was sentenced to life in prison in February 2023 for 85 serious offences, including 48 rapes against 12 women from 2003 to 2020.
The IOPC said the officers involved, some of whom have since retired and one who now works for another force, range in rank from police constable to chief inspector.
Four allegations over nine years
It said that six of the people being investigated were from the force’s department of professional standards (DPS), which is supposed to assess police conduct.
The investigations relate to four allegations against Carrick over nine years.
The first, in 2002, occurred just over a year after Carrick joined the force.
He was accused of attacking a girlfriend who wanted to end their relationship. She reported the matter to his bosses in Scotland Yard, which investigated, but no action was taken.
If he had faced a disciplinary investigation at that time, because he was still on his probation period, he could potentially have been removed from the police.
In 2016, one of his ex-partners reported him to Hampshire Police after becoming convinced he was stalking her. The matter was investigated and referred to the DPS but ultimately dropped.
Three years later, in 2019, he was reported to Hertfordshire Police over allegations he had a row with a woman, during which he grabbed her around the neck and dragged her out of his house.
Hertfordshire Police spoke to the victim but no further action was taken.
Scotland Yard’s DPS was informed and the matter was sent to his own parliamentary and diplomatic protection unit to examine.
The final case being looked at dated from July 2021, when a former girlfriend made an allegation of rape against Carrick.
He was arrested on July 13, 2021, and Scotland Yard was informed that one of its officers was being questioned on suspicion of a serious sex offence. The victim later withdrew the complaint.
A misconduct investigation was opened by the Met but it was subsequently decided he had no case to answer. He later pleaded guilty to that rape.
Mel Palmer, IOPC regional director, said: “Our review has identified repeated failures to progress conduct investigations when the Met’s DPS officers were advised that no further action was being taken by the forces carrying out the criminal investigations into Carrick.
“We were also deeply concerned to find that in respect of two of the cases, David Carrick’s name was removed from the MPS’s system records after the criminal investigations were dropped.
“This meant that some prior allegations made against Carrick did not show up in the system when further allegations were later made, leading to MPS officers being unable to build a complete picture of his pattern of offending.”
Ms Palmer said that the IOPC was also investigating concerns Wiltshire Police failed to properly investigate a report made against Carrick in 2016 following a voluntary referral from the force.
Ensure criminals are rooted out
Debaleena Dasgupta, solicitor at the Centre for Women’s Justice, said the findings of the IOPC raised serious questions as to Sir Mark Rowley’s commitment to ensuring other criminals in the force are rooted out.
She added: “It is disappointing that the Met, who claim to have learnt lessons from this horrific case, did not themselves identify that there might be misconduct matters arising.”
The Home Office also announced on Thursday that officers who fail their vetting will face automatic dismissal proceedings under new rules to be introduced in the wake of the Carrick scandal.
Chief constables will also for the first time be legally required to “have regard” to ensuring all their officers are vetted under the new code – or face the prospect of disciplinary action if they fail to do so.
The new legally enforced code stipulates that an officer’s failure to hold minimum vetting clearance should lead to dismissal proceedings. Any officer who faces misconduct proceedings and is not sacked will also be re-vetted.
Suella Braverman, Home Secretary, said: “The sickening cases of David Carrick and Wayne Couzens made clear the need for vetting practices that are effective and consistent in identifying those not fit to serve.”