Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has apologised to PC David Carrick’s victims and “all of the women across London who feel we’ve let them down.”
His comments came after PC Carrick appeared at Southwark Crown Court and admitted false imprisonment, indecent assault and four counts of rape. At a previous Old Bailey hearing he pleaded guilty to 43 offences including 20 counts of rape, and others of controlling and coercive behaviour and sexual assault.
The day after his crown court appearance he was dismissed from the Met for gross misconduct. Assistant commissioner Louisa Rolfe said: “This is a sickening and horrific case with far-reaching consequences for policing.”
After conceding the force had failed as investigators, commissioner Rowley said since he took over four months ago the Metropolitan Police has launched a new anti-corruption and abuse command and is being more proactive against problematic officers.
He pledged that by the end of March the Met will have: checked details it has on staff against national police intelligence data; conducted a full review of its vetting process; tested new legal routes to dismiss those who fail vetting; and reviewed all officers and staff against whom there are concerning domestic or sexual incident reports.
Broadcaster Sky News reported 1,633 cases involving 1,071 officers and staff will be scrutinised. In October the Met was investigating 625 allegations of domestic or sexual abuse against officers and staff.
In a statement to Parliament, home secretary Suella Braverman announced an internal review into police dismissals and described a serving police officer’s admission of being responsible for “a monstrous campaign of abuse” as a dark day for British policing.
“It is vital that the Metropolitan police and other forces double down on their efforts to root out corrupt officers: this may mean more shocking cases come to light in the short-term,” she added.
Carrick, who had served in the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command since 2009, is in custody and due to be sentenced at Southwark Crown Court in a hearing beginning 6 February.
