Retired UK Met officers probed for child sex abuse offenses
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As a result of an investigation into the death of a serving police officer, two other retired officers get charged with child sex offenses.
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UK Police officers stand outside a closed-off scene (Reuters)
Rapists among the ranks of the London police force are exposed as two retired officers get charged, on Thursday, with child sex offenses.
According to the Metropolitan Police stated that Jack Addis, 63 years old, and Jeremy Laxton, 62 years old, will appear before judges in central London on February 9.
Addis was charged with conspiring to distribute or display deplorable photos of minors. Laxton is charged with the same offense in addition to others, including taking obscene images of a child.
They both left the Met. Police over a decade ago, however, they were both probed during the inquiry of officer Richard Watkinson, 49 years old, whose body was discovered on the same day he was supposed to answer bail in the case.
Met Commander Jon Savell said in a statement that "Chief Inspector Watkinson was facing extremely serious and concerning charges, as the result of a painstaking and thorough police investigation," for which he was suspended and arrested in July of 2021.
Hundreds of UK police face sack over sexual, domestic abuse offenses
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 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.
The serial rapist officer
The example of David 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.
