Police watchdog to re-open probe into forces’ David Carrick investigations

The independent police complaints watchdog is to re-open its probe into whether several forces failed to properly investigate or prosecute serial rapist and former Met Police officer David Carrick.

Carrick, 48, admitted 85 serious offences during a 17 year campaign of terror and attacks against women. He was jailed for 30 years last week.

His conduct was first referred to the watchdog, the IOPC, in July 2021 by the Met after it was told by the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire (BCH) Major Crime Unit that Carrick was being investigated for an allegation of coercive or controlling behaviour and rape of a former partner.

Following his arrest in October 2021 and the subsequent charge that followed, the IOPC received 22 further referrals from the Met relating to his conduct, as more allegations and charges were laid against him.

At that point the IOPC agreed that the BCH should continue to investigate those matters.

Courtroom sketch of David Carrick.
Elizabeth Cook

The IOPC subsequently asked the forces to carry out a review to check whether there had been any failures on their part to investigate or prosecute Carrick and those forces have since claimed that there are no issues which meet the criteria for a referral to the IOPC.

However, the IOPC has now announced that it will review the responses from each of those forces to consider whether their handling of reports concerning Carrick were appropriate on each occasion and to determine whether there are any matters which should be referred to the IOPC.

The focus will be on whether reported crimes were investigated appropriately.

The review will also look at whether sufficient consideration was given to recording and investigating potential complaints issues around conduct.

It will also seek to determine whether, in the initial handling of reports concerning Carrick, forces acted in accordance with the law, national and local policy and guidance.

In particular it will look at whether investigating officers were inappropriately influenced by Carrick’s status as a serving police constable.

It will also probe whether any officers or police staff members failed to challenge, report or take action in relation to Carrick’s conduct.

Carrick’s case is the latest in a string of damaging scandals for the Met and other forces, including the murder of Sarah Everard by serving Met officer Wayne Couzens.

Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb delivering her remarks ahead of the sentencing of Pc David Carrick
PA Video

Met commissioner Sir Mark Rowley described Carrick’s crimes as “unspeakably evil” and admitted: “He should not have been a police officer.

Sir Mark said the Met is “truly sorry”, adding: “We have let down women across London but we are more determined than ever to put it right.”

Hertfordshire Police have set up a special portal to encourage other potential victims of Carrick to come forward.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council chairman Martin Hewitt said people should now “expect to see more investigations launched, more sanctions, more sackings and more charges”.