Serial rapist David Carrick sacked from Met Police after admitting 24 rapes

Steve Hopkins

David Carrick was charged with 49 offences

David Carrick has been sacked by the Met Police at a misconduct hearing held in his absence in west London on Tuesday.

Carrick, who was known to his colleagues as “B*****d Dave”, was found to be one of Britain’s most prolific sex offenders after he pleaded guilty to dozens of rapes and sexual offences on Monday.

The 48-year-old former officer attacked at least 12 women over an 18-year period throughout his career at the Met where his role included policing parliamentary, government and diplomatic premises. He faced 49 charges.

Carrick was only suspended after being arrested following a second rape complaint in October 2021.

He was vetted by the Met in 2001 and again in 2017, and passed on both occasions.

The Met said Carrick’s pay was stopped and an accelerated misconduct process was launched after he first entered guilty pleas to 43 charges in December.

Met Police Assistant Commissioner describes David Carrick as 'a prolific serial sex offender who abused his position as a police officer.'

She adds: 'He's had a devastating impact on the trust of women and girls – that we are working so hard to earn'.https://t.co/UeOD6EDLu5 pic.twitter.com/BWVRxaM4GX

— Sky News (@SkyNews) January 16, 2023

Tuesday’s hearing was due to be held in private because Carrick still faced trial but was opened to the media after he entered guilty pleas at Southwark Crown Court on Monday.

Assistant commissioner Louisa Rolfe said she was in no doubt Carrick’s actions amounted to gross misconduct and said he should be dismissed from the Met without notice.

Carrick’s offending included 24 rapes as well as charges of false imprisonment, indecent assault and possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear or violence.

Andrea Simon, director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW), said the case showed the Met “is an institution in crisis.

“That Carrick’s horrific pattern of egregious behaviour was known to the Met, and they failed to take appropriate action, demonstrates just how broken the systems which are supposed to keep the public safe from perpetrators of rape and abuse are,” she said.

“These failings speak more loudly than any of the Met’s promises to tackle violence against women.

“We stand in solidarity with the victims and all survivors who may find the details of his abuse distressing and re-traumatising.

“This case is a horrendous example of police failures and their complete lack of oversight and accountability. The police are clearly incapable of identifying perpetrators in their midst, even when they exhibit textbook patterns of predatory behaviour.”