Police missed numerous chances to stop Carrick

Police failed to identify an "escalating pattern" of abuse towards women by David Carrick, leaving him free to target more victims for two decades.

- LIZZIE DEARDEN

The former Metropolitan Police firearms officer was allowed to remain in the force despite police recording nine incidents, including rape and violent assault, because he was never prosecuted.

Carrick, now 48, started his campaign of abuse before joining up, with the Metropolitan Police investigating him in 2000 for allegedly harassing and burgling a former partner after refusing to accept the end of the relationship.

No charges were brought and when he was vetted as part of his application to join the same force the following year, he passed the checks and was allowed to become a constable.

Despite coming to the attention of police again in 2002, 2004, 2009, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2021, none of the incidents resulted in prosecution and Scotland Yard repeatedly decided that he had "no case to answer" for disciplinary proceedings.

Months after Sarah Everard was murdered by another serving Met officer in March 2021, Carrick was finally arrested by Hertfordshire Police for raping one of his victims and placed on restricted duties.

Carrick was investigated for several offences over the last two decades (PA)

But the investigation ended with no action being taken and in September 2021, the Metropolitan Police said it "determined that he had no case to answer in relation to any misconduct matters" and lifted all restrictions.

That same month, then commissioner Dame Cressida Dick vowed to do "everything in my power to ensure we learn any lessons" from the murder of Everard, adding: “Here in the Met I commit to keep working with others to improve women's safety."

Carrick has admitted 49 offences, including 24 rapes, against 12 women between 2003 and 2020 - all committed during his career in the Metropolitan Police.