Met Police Officer David Carrick Pleads Guilty to Multiple Rapes and Sexual Offences
Shocking Guilty Pleas Rock the Met
The Metropolitan Police has condemned David Carrick, a serving officer, after he pleaded guilty to multiple rapes, false imprisonment, indecent assault, and other serious sexual crimes. Carrick entered guilty pleas today at Southwark Crown Court for false imprisonment, indecent assault, and four rapes. This follows a December 13 hearing at the Old Bailey, where he admitted to 43 charges, including 20 rapes plus coercive and controlling behaviour.
He is now in custody and will be sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on February 6.
Met Apologises to Victims, Admits Failures
Assistant Commissioner Barbara Gray, the Met’s lead for Professionalism, issued a public apology to the women Carrick abused. She said:
“I applaud their extraordinary bravery in coming forward to report these heinous crimes. Carrick exploited his role as a police officer to prey on women for years, committing horrific, degrading offences. His actions have shattered lives and severely damaged trust in the Met, especially among women and girls.”
“We deeply regret failing to spot his abusive pattern sooner and thus prolonging his victims’ suffering. We are determined to root out all corrupt officers.”
Disturbing History and Missed Warnings
Investigations revealed Carrick was involved in numerous off-duty incidents dating back to before his policing career. Although arrested in October 2021 and suspended immediately, many previous reports—ranging from harassment to domestic disputes—were dropped or not fully investigated. The Met admits these warning signs should have triggered further scrutiny.
Some of the notable uncovered incidents include:
- Two criminal allegations linked to a former business partner in 2000 before joining the Met.
- Accusations of harassment and assault over the years with no charges filed.
- Repeated domestic incidents attended by police but with no prosecutions.
- An arrest in July 2021 for rape, which led to restricted duties but no immediate conviction.
Met’s Sweeping Reforms in Wake of Scandal
In response to the Carrick case and wider concerns, the Met has committed millions to overhaul its internal investigations and anti-corruption efforts. Highlights include:
- Hiring over 400 specialists, forming a 50-strong Domestic Abuse and Sexual Offending team.
- Launching a new Anti-Corruption and Abuse Command dedicated to rooting out officers who abuse their positions on or off duty.
- Implementing rigorous vetting processes and regular re-vetting to catch risks earlier.
- Partnering with Crimestoppers to create an anonymous abuse and corruption hotline.
The Met vows relentless action against any officer involved in sexual offences or corruption, aiming to restore public trust.
David Carrick’s Career in Brief
- Joined the Met in 2001, served in Merton and Barnet before moving to Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection in 2009.
- Received 5 minor complaints from the public between 2002–2008, none sexual in nature.
- Repeated encounters with police forces across the country for various off-duty incidents.
- Suspended and under investigation since October 2021.
The Met admits vetting lapses allowed Carrick to maintain clearance despite prior arrests and incidents. New tougher vetting measures mean that anyone with Carrick’s background would likely be rejected today.
Assistant Commissioner Gray concluded: “Carrick’s offending is unprecedented in policing. We’re committed to learning from this failure and making sure no other victims suffer at the hands of those sworn to protect.”
