SHAMING OF THE MET

Armed police officer is one of Britain's worst serial rapists ,He committed more than 70 sex attacks in eighteen years, More than 1,000 on force payroll accused of abuse

- LIZZIE DEARDEN

The Metropolitan Police is facing demands for answers after one of its officers was revealed to be one of Britain's worst serial rapists. David Carrick admitted 49 charges relating to 71 sexual offences including 24 rapes against 12 women. All the crimes, which included patterns of sadistic and degrading abuse, were committed while he was a serving officer in Britain's largest police force.

London mayor Sadiq Khan said he was "sickened" by the case, while commissioner Sir Mark Rowley apologised to Carrick's victims and vowed to reform the Met Police. He said: "We have failed and I'm sorry. He should not have been a police officer." After Carrick pleaded guilty, Scotland Yard revealed that more than 1,000 serving officers and staff were subject to past allegations of sex offences and domestic abuse but warned that most would stay in post. The force launched a review of cases that did not result in criminal prosecution or dismissals, codenamed Operation Onyx, after discovering Carrick had been allowed to remain in uniform even after the Met was alerted to reports of rape and domestic abuse.

It has so far uncovered 1,633 cases, involving 1,071 officers and staff, but Scotland Yard said being flagged by the probe was "not in itself a finding of wrongdoing or sufficient reason to remove an officer from frontline duties". It comes as the home secretary Suella Braverman prepares to announce a review of police disciplinary processes that will ultimately aim to make it easier to sack officers for wrongdoing and misconduct. "It's clear the standards and culture need to change in policing," she said.