All police forces have been asked to check their officers and staff against national police databases to “identify anyone who has slipped through the net” in the wake of the David Carrick rape case, the Home Office said.
It comes as Rishi Sunak promised police reforms to make sure offenders have “no place to hide” after the “truly sickening” crimes of Carrick. The Prime Minister told MPs the police “must address the failings in this case, restore public confidence and ensure the safety of women and girls”.
Serving Metropolitan Police officer Carrick, who was unmasked as one of the UK’s most prolific sex offenders, was officially sacked from the force on Tuesday. The 48-year-old was found to have committed gross misconduct after admitting 49 criminal charges, including 24 counts of rape against 12 women over an 18-year period.
Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions in the Commons on Wednesday (January 18), Mr Sunak said: “I know members from across the House will be as shocked and as appalled as I am about the case of David Carrick. The abuse of power is truly sickening and our thoughts are with his victims.
“The police must address the failings in this case, restore public confidence and ensure the safety of women and girls. There will be no place to hide for those who use their position to intimidate those women and girls, or those who have failed to act to reprimand or remove those people from office.”
Mr Sunak will meet Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley later on Wednesday. Home Secretary Suella Braverman has also asked the College of Policing to strengthen the statutory code of practice for police vetting, making the obligations all forces must legally follow stricter and clearer.
In a statement, she said: “David Carrick’s sickening crimes are a stain on the police and he should never have been allowed to remain as an officer for so long. We are taking immediate steps to ensure predatory individuals are not only rooted out of the force, but that vetting and standards are strengthened to ensure they cannot join the police in the first place.
“Every day thousands of decent, hard-working police officers perform their duties with the utmost professionalism and I am sure they all share my disgust at his despicable betrayal of everything they stand for.”
Another watchdog review has been commissioned so His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) can check how forces have responded to its recent findings on vetting and corruption within the ranks to “make sure chief officers are taking the necessary action to remove those who are not fit to serve”.
The Home Office has also launched a review of the police disciplinary system to make sure officers who “are not fit to serve the public” and “fall short of the high standards expected of them” can be sacked.
Officials will examine decision making at misconduct hearings, and the panels tasked with leading them, as well as checking forces have the powers they need to take action against rogue officers. The review is expected to be completed within about four months.
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