Trust in policing has fallen to its “lowest level” following the horrific attacks by former officer David Carrick, the police watchdog has claimed.
The chief inspector of His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC), Andy Cooke, appeared at the home affairs select committee today, saying the acts of the then-PC “absolutely slurs the whole profession and it will remain with policing for some time”.
But when asked whether he thought forces in England and Wales had a problem with women, Mr Cook denied institutional sexism, saying instead that it was a “societal” problem.
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Earlier this week, David Carrick – who had served as a Metropolitan Police officer for over 20 years – admitted to 49 charges for crimes committed over an 18-year period, including 24 rape counts.
The charges related to the rape of nine different women, but some are multiple incident counts, meaning they cover more than 80 sexual offences, including at least 48 rapes.
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Speaking to the committee about policing priorities, Mr Cook was questioned about the case, with Labour’s Dame Diana Johnson saying there seemed to be “a systematic failure of the police system that allowed [Carrick] to carry on as a police officer”.
As chair of the committee, she asked: “How was this man allowed to serve as a police officer for so long?”
Mr Cooke admitted there had been “significant failures”, adding: “Obviously the offenses committed by this individual are absolutely despicable and no individual should be allowed anywhere near a police uniform who is that way inclined.”
He said HMIC had already conducted a review of the vetting process to join the police – which was commissioned after the murder of Sarah Everard by former officer Wayne Couzens – and 43 recommendations had been made and accepted by forces around the country.
The chief inspector promised his team would be “going back in very quickly” to check forces were adopting the measures and that police chiefs “need to take an exceptionally strong line with it”.
“I think we must bear in mind as well, there are an awful lot of police officers out there doing a good job on a daily basis, but one officer like this absolutely slurs the whole profession,” he added.
“And it will remain with policing for some time because as we know it is not the first issue in relation to officers who have committed serious offenses and not just in the Metropolitan Police either, this is a nationwide issue.
However, Dame Diana, backed by both Conservative and Labor members of the committee, believed it was a culture of misogyny that needed to be addressed within policing, along with the vetting process.
“What is the problem with the police service and women?” she asked. “I absolutely agree. there are many police officers who do an exceptionally good job and are committed to serving the public. But there is a real problem.”
Mr Cooked said: “Undoubtedly there are significant issues with policing culture, but misogyny is a societal not just to police.”
But the committee chair hit back, saying that was “no excuse”.
Labor MP Dame Diana Johnson said she feared policing was institutionally sexist.
Asked outright if policing was institutionally sexist, there was a long pause by Mr Cooke, before he replied: “No, I don’t. We now have more female police officers than before – in the most recent intake, four out of every 10 officers who were joining are female officers, and roughly 40% of the policing establishments is female and 40% of chief constables are female.
“So policing has come on leaps and bounds over many, many years in relation to this institute. Institutionally misogynistic? No, I don’t think it is. Are there the significant issues in parts policing [within] individuals and groups? Yes there is.”
Public trust ‘shattered’
After Carrick’s court appearance earlier this week, Downing Street said his crimes were “appalling”, urging forces to root out criminal officers “to restore the public’s trust which has been shattered”.
met police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley admitted his organization “failed” and Carrick “should not have been a police officer”.
The force has apologized after it emerged Carrick, who worked with the force’s parliamentary and diplomatic command, came to the attention of officers over nine previous incidents – including claims of rape and domestic violence – but faced no criminal sanctions or misconduct findings over those allegations.
He was sacked from the force after a misconduct hearing.
