Met Police chief says force will be 'ruthless' in review of 1,000 officer abuse claims, after cop admits multiple rapes

16 January 2023, 19:59 | Updated: 17 January 2023, 05:43

Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley says the force will be 'ruthless' in review of 1,000 sexual and domestic abuse claims involving its officers, after cop admits multiple rapes.

The Metropolitan Police said 1,633 cases of alleged sexual offences or domestic violence involving 1,071 officers and other staff are being reviewed to ensure the appropriate decisions were made.

Addressing the review, Sir Mark told the BBC: "So that's a thousand cases to look at. Some of those will be things of no concern in the end when we look at them, because it will be an argument overheard by neighbours where inquiries show there's nothing to be concerned about.

"But in there, I'm sad to say, there will be some cases where in the past we should have been more assertive and looked to throw officers out, and we haven't done," he said.

He added "We're going to turn all those stones over, we're going to come to right conclusions, and we will be ruthless about rooting out those who corrupt our integrity. You have my absolute assurance on that."

His comments come after Met officer PC David Carrick pleaded guilty to 49 offences against 12 women, including dozens of rapes.

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Sir Mark apologised to Carrick's victims, saying the force had "let women and girls down".

Carrick, who was an armed PC in the parliamentary and diplomatic protection unit of the Met, used his position to lure women and then bully them into keeping quiet about his attacks over a 17-year period, police and prosecutors said.

The Met apologised to victims after it came out that Carrick's attacks had come to their attention over nine incidents including allegations of rape, domestic violence, and harassment between 2000 and 2021.

Detective Chief Inspector Iain Moor, from Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, said the "sheer number of offences" showed Carrick's "prolific and callous nature".

He added that he expects even more victims to come forward.

Carrick met some of his victims through online dating sites such as Tinder and Badoo, or out socially.

DCI Moor said: "Whilst he was not a man that stalked the streets scouting for victims - he invested time in developing relationships with women to sustain his appetite for degradation and control - the coercive nature of his offending undermined his victims in the most destructive way."

Carrick admitted to raping nine of the women. Some of the attacks took place over months or years, injuring the victims in some cases.

Assistant commissioner Barbara Gray, the Met’s lead for professionalism, said: “On behalf of the Metropolitan Police, I want to apologise to the women who have suffered at the hands of David Carrick.

“I commend their outstanding bravery in coming forward and reporting the horrific crimes they were victims of.

“Carrick is a prolific, serial sex offender who preyed on women over a period of many years, abusing his position as a police officer and committing the most horrific, degrading crimes.

“He has devastated women’s lives. He has had a devastating impact on the trust and confidence of women and girls that we are working so hard to earn. He has devastated colleagues."

Carrick will be sentenced over two days from February 6.