Hundreds of UK police face sack over sexual, domestic abuse offenses
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The prosecution comes after a string of revelations of significant wrongdoing within the force, Britain's largest.
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A Metropolitan Police officer stands on duty in Westminster, London. (Reuters)
Hundreds of London police officers are likely to be fired for sexual and domestic abuse offenses, Britain's police chief said on Tuesday, as he fought to recover public faith after an officer admitted to being a serial rapist.
The Metropolitan Police ("the Met") in London, which has been rocked by scandals in recent years, was thrown into further disarray after David Carrick, 48, admitted to carrying out 24 counts of rape while serving as a police officer while his colleagues missed opportunities to stop him.
The prosecution comes after a string of revelations of significant wrongdoing within the force, Britain's largest, with over 43,000 officers and personnel responsible for leading the country's response to terrorism and issues like extradition.
London Commissioner Mark Rowley, who was appointed four months ago to manage the clean-up, said investigations into approximately 800 officers and 1,000 sexual and domestic abuse claims were underway. Many employees will be sacked as a result of the procedure, he predicted.
"I've got tens of thousands of fantastic men and women, but I've got hundreds who shouldn't be here. I'm going to sort it out," Rowley said as quoted by BBC on Tuesday.
"We're systematically reviewing every member of police staff and police officer who we have any historic flags against, for being involved in incidents involving domestic abuse or sexual violence," he added.
The public's trust in the Met has been shaken by revelations about its culture of corruption, racism, and misogyny.
In recent years, one cop was sentenced to life in prison for the rape and murder of a woman he abducted as she went home, and the courts found that heavy-handed police at a memorial in her honor was unconstitutional.
A serving officer was convicted of belonging to a neo-Nazi group, two more were imprisoned for sharing photos from a crime scene after the murder of two sisters, and an investigation into one unit revealed discussions about beating women, with one officer messaging a female colleague to say he would rape her.
Since 2021, the Met has been the subject of an independent investigation, with preliminary results stating that "radical" reform was required in dealing with complaints of wrongdoing against officers.
The serial rapist officer
The example of Carrick, one of Britain's most serial sex offenders who pleaded guilty to 24 counts of rape between 2003 and 2020, raised concerns about the failure to recognize his behavior.
Between 2000 and 2021, he was investigated by police for nine instances, including allegations of harassment, assault, and rape, but he was never charged.
Carrick had used his position of power to frighten and control his victims, assuring them that no one would trust their statement against that of a serving officer.
