Summary
We’re closing this live blog now. Thanks for reading. Here’s a summary of the latest developments:
The serial rapist former Metropolitan police officer David Carrick has been told he will serve more than 30 years in prison before he can be considered for release. Carrick was given 36 life sentences for his 17-year campaign of terror and attacks against women, with a minimum term set at 32 years – less time served on remand.
Sentencing Carrick, the judge told him he had been “brought low” by the survivors of his years of violent sexual attacks. “These women are not weak or ineffectual. They were victims of your criminal mindset. The malign influence of men like you in positions of power stands in the way of a revolution of women’s dignity,” she said.
Farah Nazeer, the chief executive of Women’s Aid, told the BBC the sentencing came “17 years, 12 victims and at least and 85 offences too late”. She said: The courage and bravery [of the women who came forward] should be commended and that will send a message to other women in that situation that justice can be achieved.”
The Scotland Yard chief, Sir Mark Rowley, claimed the force would win back the trust of women shaken by the revelation of Carrick’s crimes. “We have let down women across London but we are more determined than ever to put it right. I have been clear, we will rid the Met of those who corrupt our integrity by bringing the same intensive investigative approach to identifying wrongdoing in our own ranks as we do to identifying criminals in the community,” he said.
The home secretary, Suella Braverman, described Carrick’s crimes as a “scar on our police”. She said: “It is vital we uncover how he was able to wear the uniform for so long, and I welcome the Angiolini inquiry’s investigation into David Carrick’s criminal behaviour and the decision-making around his vetting.”
The full report from my colleagues Vikram Dodd and Emine Sinmaz is here:
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Scotland Yard commissioner says he hopes to win back women's trust in the police
The Metropolitan police commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, claims he will “earn back the trust and confidence of women”. Speaking after the sentencing, he said:
I and tens of thousands of officers and staff in the Met are horrified by this man’s crimes and recognise this will shake Londoners’ trust too. We have let down women across London but we are more determined than ever to put it right.
I have been clear, we will rid the Met of those who corrupt our integrity by bringing the same intensive investigative approach to identifying wrongdoing in our own ranks as we do to identifying criminals in the community. Some other police services are starting to confront similar issues.
Addressing systemic failures will take time, but we will be determined and relentless in rooting out the corrupt. Lifting the stone and confronting what we find beneath, will result in more difficult cases coming to light. We need the support of Londoners to get through it.
This is not the time for me to lay out in detail the actions we are taking to root out those who corrupt our integrity. Today is about the victims’ fight for justice.
On 31 March, we will be sharing the progress we have made on rooting out those who corrupt our integrity. We will earn back the trust and confidence of women and give Londoners the police service they deserve.
David Carrick’s crimes were unspeakably evil. The detail is harrowing.
He subjected these victims and survivors to the most degrading and inhumane treatment and yet they still showed the courage to come forward and to provide the evidence that led to his conviction.
He exploited his position as a police officer in the most disgusting way. He should not have been a police officer. We weren’t rigorous enough in our approach and as a result we missed opportunities to identify the warning signs over decades. I want to again reiterate my apology on behalf of the Met. We are truly sorry.
I recognise that as a result of this case and other prominent recent cases, there are women whose trust in the police is profoundly shaken.
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