The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has initiated multiple independent investigations into concerns that officers from the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) failed to take appropriate action in response to serious criminal allegations against former police officer David Carrick. The investigations were launched after the MPS concluded a review last year without identifying any conduct matters. The IOPC’s own review, conducted at the request of the MPS, found evidence to support four separate investigations into the conduct of eight MPS officers and one staff member.
One of the investigations will focus on a 2002 harassment allegation made against Carrick by a former partner. The MPS conducted an investigation into the allegation, but it was not referred to its Department of Professional Standards (DPS), and Carrick was only spoken to by his line manager. The other investigations will examine the role of MPS officers in cases involving harassment and stalking allegations in 2016 and 2019, as well as a rape allegation in February 2021.
The IOPC’s review revealed misconduct matters concerning the handling of allegations against Carrick by MPS officers. These matters relate to apparent failures to progress misconduct investigations after criminal investigations into Carrick were dropped. The officers involved range in rank from police constable to chief inspector, and some have since retired or work for other forces. The IOPC will determine whether disciplinary proceedings should be initiated following the completion of the investigations.
The IOPC expressed concern over the repeated failures to progress conduct investigations and the removal of Carrick’s name from the MPS’s system records after the criminal investigations were discontinued. These actions hindered the ability of MPS officers to identify a pattern of offending. The IOPC emphasized that misconduct should still be considered when there is insufficient evidence for a criminal case, as the standards and procedures for disciplinary proceedings differ from those of criminal investigations.
As part of the review, the IOPC is considering recommendations for individual forces and organizations working nationally, including the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the College of Policing. These recommendations cover areas such as vetting, police approach to off-duty conduct, and the inclusion of a mandatory “police perpetrated” flag in crime recording systems. The IOPC has also initiated an independent investigation into concerns regarding Wiltshire Police’s handling of a report made against Carrick in 2016. The findings of the IOPC’s review will be shared with the team involved in the Angiolini Inquiry to support its investigation into Carrick’s offending.
