By Gabriel Princewill-
Home Secretary, Suella Braverman has confirmed that an inquiry by Lady Elish Angiolini’s , will examine the failings that led to the repeated horrifying criminal offences committed by former serving police officer, David Carrick.
The Angiolini Inquiry was established in the wake of the murder of Sarah Everard to understand how a serving police officer was able to carry out such a horrendous crime, and a public consultation is currently open on Part 2 of this Inquiry to examine police culture, vetting processes and the safety of women.
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The Terms of Reference will examine all issues relating to Carrick’s behaviour or conduct that were known or raised by his colleagues, his abuse of police powers and intimidation of witnesses, and the impact of police treatment on his victims.
Braverman said that David Carrick’s crimes were a “scar on our police” as she expanded the terms of an inquiry into high-profile offences committed by Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officers.
Former lord advocate Lady Elish Angiolini is leading an independent inquiry, originally set up in November 2021, to look at events preceding the murder of Sarah Everard by Wayne Couzens, but since expanded to include Carrick’s offences.
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Carrick, one of the Britain’s worst prolific sex offenders, was jailed for life on Tuesday, after pleaded guilty to 49 charges, including 24 counts of rape, over 17 years.
His multiple offences were a disgrace to the Metropolitan police and underlined years of deplorable conduct by Met officers, who are otherwise meant to be trusted by the British public to have their best interest at heart.
Instead, what emerged over a period of several years, was a pattern of boundless transgressions of the law by unscrupulous officers posing as agents of the law, but who in actually fact were monsters not fit to wear the uniform of an officer, meant to be an emblem of honour and integrity .
A spate of sexual offences , domestic abuses, racist and misogynistic conduct by unsavoury individuals who ought never to have been vetted as offices, has progressively become a slight on the force.
Worthy of acknowledgement is the fact that a number of dignified and principled officers creditable to the force have often exposed the rotten officers in their midst, at the expense of the collective shame it heaps on the force.
The reputation of the Metropolitan police has suffered serious knocks in the past, but the height of an irresponsible culture in the force hit home when in June 2021, Wayne Couzens pleaded guilty to the brutal rape and killing of Sarah Everard, after he flashed his shameful police badge at her during lockdown times.
He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life order on 30 September 2021.
At the time, the Met Police vowed to appoint Baroness Casey of Blackstock to conduct a review of Met culture and standards in order to rebuild public trust and published a new action plan for tackling violence against women and girls – prioritising action against sexual and violent predatory offenders.
Amongst the Met’s pledge was the establishment of 650 new officers into busy public places, including those where women and girls often lack confidence that they are safe
more reassurance patrols and an increased police presence in key “hotspot” locations for offences of violence and harassment.
It included an urgent review of all current investigations into allegations of sexual misconduct and domestic abuse against officers and staff to ascertain that those who made the allegations were properly supported, and the investigations were comprehensive
an urgent dip sample of cases from the last 10 years where sexual misconduct and domestic abuse allegations have been made and those accused remain in the Met, to ensure that appropriate management measures, including vetting reviews, have been taken.
Despite that promise, a litany of other sexual misconducts were yet to emerge.
The serial offences committed by a sick pervert, not worthy of being admitted into any professional endeavour where women are present was yet to be uncovered.
Repeated apologies have been made on behalf of the Metropolitan police for the offences committed by David Carrick, and the failure of the force to have prevented them.
Whilst those apologies are accepted, they are simply bot good enough. As the old saying goes, prevention is better than cure.
It s unsurprising that Suella Braverman said it was “only right” that the former MPS police constable serve 30 years behind bars, as she paid tribute to the bravery of his victims. What else could she say, that the decision to jail the monster was wrong?
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.
“There is no place in our police for such heinous and predatory behaviour, and I look forward to receiving Lady Elish’s findings.”
The inquiry is poised to interview witnesses and analyse documents from the MPS, Hertfordshire Constabulary and the Ministry of Defence to establish a timeline of Carrick’s criminal behaviour and misconduct “as well as any other relevant police investigations and/or incidents”.
It will also examine potential issues to do with his vetting and what his colleagues knew about his behaviour towards women before making recommendations to the Home Secretary “as soon as practicable”.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan also said he supported “the renewed action being taken by the Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley to review past misconduct cases” and welcomed “the widening of the Angiolini Inquiry to consider Carrick’s crimes and look at vetting and recruitment procedures and the extent of misogynistic culture in policing”.
He added: “I’ll continue to support and hold the Met to account to ensure we root out all those who are unfit to serve as police officers and deliver the urgent reforms and step change in culture and performance required. As mayor, I will not be satisfied until Londoners have the police service they deserve.”
Alongside the Angiolini Inquiry, the Government has commissioned His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire and Rescue Services to conduct a rapid review of all forces’ response to the inspectorate’s recent report into vetting and counter-corruption. This will ensure chief officers are taking the necessary action to remove those who are not fit to serve.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council is asking all forces to conduct a ‘data-washing exercise’ of their staff against the Police National Database to check for sexual violence and domestic abuse markers on case files.
The Home Secretary has also launched an internal review into police dismissals to make sure the system is effective at removing officers who fall short of the standards expected of them.
More needs to be done to safeguard the British public from wolves in sheep clothing.
They pose a serious liability to the force, and the interest of the great British public.
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