David Carrick, a member of the Metropolitan Police, has been identified as a serial rapist who has engaged in over 71 major sexual offences over the course of more than 17 years, and that is a lot for a Met police officer. One of the most horrific incidents involving an active police officer, according to the prosecution.
DCI Iain Moor, who led the investigation into David Carrick by Hertfordshire police, said: “I hope the victims and public, more widely, are reassured that no one is above the law and the police service will relentlessly pursue those offenders who target women in this way.”
Bad Met police officer
According to police and prosecutors, Carrick exploited his status as a Met officer to put victims at ease and then, as they tried to leave him, threatened that their claims against him would not be taken seriously.
The dreadful disclosures of the brutal attacks admitted by Carrick against 12 women, came as the detectives who exposed the 48-year-old officer made clear they believe there are even more victims and urged them to come forward.
The offensive conduct of the Met police officer led Downing Street to lose faith in the police and their belief in the justice system shattered.
On Monday, Carrick pleaded guilty to the remaining charges against him at Southwark crown court, bringing a total of 49 charges covering 85 serious offenses with the voice of his victims yet to be heard.
First revelation
The Guardian obtained the first account of abuse from a woman who vividly described how Carrick sent her selfies from work in his uniform who sometimes showed his Met-issued gun, and threatened to kill her saying: “I can kill you without leaving any evidence.”
She claimed that he restrained her with his police-issue handcuffs and boasted that he was a powerful man who guarded the prime minister. The woman said he coerced her into staying in the relationship by convincing her he would plant drugs in her car, saying, “Who are they going to believe?”
The woman spoke to detectives from Hertfordshire police force who investigated Carrick but chose not to make a formal complaint because she did not want to relive her agony during a potentially brutal court hearing.
Police and prosecutors say the Met police officer dominate and humiliate his victims, forcing them into a tiny understairs cupboard where they were forced to stay naked for hours.
He verbally abused them, calling one his “slave,” and used sexual violence to degrade them, including urinating on some of them.
Looking the other way?
The Met has admitted errors in failing to spot Carrick as a rising threat during his 20 years of service. However, no action was taken, with the women either refusing to formally complain or have withdrawn their cooperation from the police investigation.
Despite the alarm bells, Carrick was promoted in 2009 from patrolling the streets to being a member of an elite armed unit, the parliamentary and diplomatic protection command, guarding embassies, Downing Street, and the Houses of Parliament.
Apologies, for what?
Since taking over as Met commissioner in September, Sir Mark Rowley has vowed to “with speed” overhaul the force, stating, “We have failed. And I apologise. He wasn’t supposed to be a policeman.
“As investigators, we fell short where we ought to have been more invasive and connected the dots on this recurring misogyny over a few decades. Furthermore, as leaders, we ought to have been more motivated to get rid of such a misogynist.
I sincerely regret hurting any of David Carrick’s victims. Additionally, I want to apologise to all the ladies in London who believe we have let them down.
The Centre for Women’s Justice’s Harriet Wistrich stated: “All these disclosures in the context of the larger picture that has been revealed of misogyny within the the Met is seriously undermining women’s confidence in the police …
“[Carrick’s] crimes, along with a significant number of other Met police officers, reveals the deeply rotten misogynistic culture that has been allowed to exist within the Met.”
The sentence
On February 6–7, David Carrick will be given his punishment, which will likely include a lengthy prison term.
While some of the crimes were committed in London, the majority were in Hertfordshire, where Carrick currently resides.
According to Moor, there is a “huge shadow” over policing due to the mistreatment of a Met police officer in his position. By coming out, the former victims—who are now survivors—have displayed amazing bravery and courage, he continued.
The Met said that it would formally fire Carrick on Tuesday. Before joining the greatest police force in Britain, he served in the army.
Here are some of the comments from netizens who were all angered by the Met’s seeming leniency of Carrick’s abuses:
Dantes38
“They didn’t fail, did they? You say in your opening remarks how police chose to do nothing when his conduct was brought to their attention on multiple occasions. They chose to do nothing and kept sending what was a serial rapist out on calls. That’s what they did and they should be given no platform to express views on their own misconduct.”
Pj K
I see lawsuits, dismissals, and retirements. It’s not just workload, it’s a mindset. Seen this in Canada. Instead of pressing charges and removal of training, they graduated and made them a foot cop while the victim suffered a broken collarbone and concussion during the hospital stay. Just nuts. Nothing will reverse the damage done. Actions can protect others.
NUFC Sam
The Met is rotten to the core. How can the public have any faith in them when over 800 police officers are under investigation for sexual assault?
gorillabang79
Commissioner Mark Rowley said,” We know we have let women down, I think we have failed over two decades.” Let that sink in, TWO DECADES. Probably I am wrong, but I would not consider it a failure I would consider it a CULTURE.
Guess what Gerard Butler would want to be if he was not an actor?