Met officers to face action over Carrick inquiry

Carrick, a former Met Police PC, was jailed after he admitted carrying out dozens of rapes and sexual offences

Four Metropolitan Police officers and a member of police staff will face disciplinary proceedings for their handling of allegations against the serial rapist police officer David Carrick, the police watchdog has said.

Carrick, of Stevenage, Hertfordshire, was jailed for at least 30 years in February 2023 after he admitted dozens of rapes and sexual offences against 12 women.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said a detective sergeant, three officers and a police staff member allegedly breached "police standards of professional behaviour".

Four reports of serious offending were made against Carrick by former partners between 2002 and 2021, while he served as a Met officer, the IOPC added.

IOPC regional director Mel Palmer said it had identified "several missed opportunities" where officers had failed to pursue misconduct investigations against Carrick.

"Had these matters been progressed appropriately, Carrick may have potentially faced gross misconduct proceedings and been dismissed from the force well before he was eventually arrested," she added.

Carrick committed many of his crimes in Hertfordshire, where he lived

The IOPC announced in July 2023 it was carrying out four independent investigations into what actions were taken by the Met, after it emerged four reports of serious offending had been made against Carrick by former partners.

They included two reports of assault and harassment, made in 2002 and 2016, a report of assault made in 2019 and a report of rape and sexual assault in 2019.

The IOPC said in each case, either no further action was taken against Carrick or the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) was not informed.

"We found that a detective sergeant should face a gross misconduct hearing for potential breaches of the police standards of professional behaviour relating to their alleged failure to supervise adequately that Carrick conduct investigation," the IOPC said.

"We also found that a detective constable and a police staff member should face misconduct meetings."

The IOPC said those facing disciplinary proceedings all worked in the Met’s DPS at the time.

'Serious flaws'

The Met said it was "truly sorry" for the harm Carrick had caused his victims, and that he should "never have been a police officer".

"We have acknowledged that serious flaws in our approach meant we did not spot his pattern of abusive behaviour and as a result, we missed opportunities to pursue him through the misconduct process. We deeply regret this," a spokesperson said.

"In addition to the IOPC investigation, we are also continuing to support the work of the independent inquiry chaired by Lady Elish Angiolini which is examining the extent to which Carrick's conduct and crimes were known and investigated at the time."

The IOPC said it was preparing "learning recommendations" for all police forces in England and Wales around vetting and the response to off-duty conduct.

It also said it was adding a mandatory "police perpetrated" flag to crime recording systems.

Carrick pictured in the dock at Southwark Crown Court

Earlier this year, London's mayor confirmed Carrick had been stripped of his full state-funded pension.

Carrick had joined the Met in 2001 before becoming an armed officer in the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection unit in 2009.

He pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court to a total of 49 offences, including 24 counts of rape, between 2003 and 2020.

The Met, and City of London Police, where one of the officers is now based, will arrange disciplinary proceedings.