Met officials face disciplinary action over “lapses” relating to Carrick

One detective sergeant will face a gross misconduct hearing, while the other four face misconduct hearings over allegations they breached professional standards, the watchdog Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said.

All officers worked in the Met’s internal standards department, the Directorate of Professional Standards.

Former Metropolitan Police officer David Carrick was sentenced to life in prison in February 2023 after being exposed as one of Britain’s worst sex offenders.

He was finally brought to justice after almost 20 years of offending because one of his victims was so moved by a victim impact statement from the mother of Sarah Everard, who was raped and murdered by Wayne Couzens, another Metropolitan Police officer.

The IOPC said a complaint of assault and harassment was made against Carrick in 2002 and he was spoken to by his superior but not referred to the force’s internal standards department.

Two inspectors would therefore have faced a misconduct hearing if they had not already retired.

In 2016, another assault and harassment report was made and was investigated by Hampshire Police as a potential crime.

No charges were brought, but the Met’s internal standards department failed to investigate possible wrongdoing.

The IOPC said two officers needed to be questioned over misconduct, one of whom has since moved to the City of London Police.

An assault was reported in 2019 and was investigated by Hertfordshire Constabulary. No charges were laid and the Met’s internal standards department was again informed.

Two chief inspectors were ordered to go through a “reflective review of practice process” to consider whether they had failed to investigate Carrick for possible misconduct.

Finally, a complaint of rape and sexual assault was made against Carrick in 2021, but following an investigation by Hertfordshire, no criminal charges were filed.

An internal investigation by the Met found there was insufficient evidence to prove wrongdoing and therefore Carrick had no case to respond to.

But the IOPC said a detective sergeant could face a gross misconduct hearing and that a detective constable and a police officer could face a misconduct hearing for alleged failure to properly supervise these investigations.

IOPC regional director Mel Palmer said: “Our thoughts continue to be with all the women who fell victim to this serial predator.”

“Our investigations into alleged failures to investigate reports against David Carrick were extensive and identified several missed opportunities to initiate misconduct investigations against him.

“In all cases, we found that officers failed to properly investigate, investigate or monitor the misconduct investigation against Carrick, who was never subject to disciplinary proceedings despite facing multiple serious criminal allegations.

“Had these matters been pursued appropriately, Carrick may have faced gross misconduct proceedings and been dismissed from the police force long before he was ultimately arrested.

“Four officers and one member of police staff now face disciplinary proceedings, including one officer who faces a gross misconduct hearing, while two other former officers would face disciplinary meetings had they not resigned from the force.”