Police branded 'institutionally sexist' by MPs in wake of David Carrick scandal
Police have today been accused of "institutional sexism" as a watchdog chief admits public confidence is at the lowest level in decades.
Andy Cooke, who heads HM Inspectorate of Constabulary told MPs there are "significant issues" around sexism and misogyny as he faced a tough grilling in the wake of the David Carrick scandal.
A committee heard that "systematic failures" had allowed Carrick to remain on the force despite being accused of rape, assault, harassment, burglary and domestic abuse.
On Monday he admitted a total of 49 offences, including 24 of rape and nine of sexual assault, carried out between 2003 and 2020.
The government has ordered all police forces to run checks on every member of staff "to root out anybody who shouldn't be serving".
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HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary and Chief Fire & Rescue Inspector Andy Cooke admitted public confidence in police is as low as he's known itCarrick's conviction has sparked calls led by Labour MP Harriet Harman for officers who let Carrick remain on the force to be sacked.
Today Dame Diana Johnson, who chairs the Parliamentary home affairs committee, said "systematic failure" had allowed Carrick to continue as a police officer.
The Labour MP told Mr Cooke: "He was known as we understand it as B***** Dave because he was mean and cruel by his colleagues.
"He was known to three police forces for allegations made against him. He sailed through his vetting in 2017, he was promoted to the diplomatic and Parliamentary protection service.
"How was this man allowed to serve as a police officer for this long?"
Mr Cooke responded:"I think it is quite clear that there have been significant failures throughout this.
Rishi Sunak today said all police staff must be checked against a national database to root out those who shouldn't be serving (UK PARLIAMENT/AFP via Getty Imag)"The offences committed by this individual are absolutely despicable and no individual should be allowed anywhere near a police uniform who is that way inclined and policing needs to get better at rooting out these individuals earlier."
Pressed on whether sexism in the nation's forces, the watchdog chief said there were "significant issues" in the policing culture, but added: "Misogyny is undoubtedly a societal issue".
Dame Diana said: "That's not an excuse."
She pointed to a report published by the Inspectorate last year in the wake of Sarah Everard's murder by Met officer Wayne Couzens.
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The report, published in November, based on a survey of 11,000 police staff, stated: "We believe that the poor behaviour towards women we were told about is prevalent in many – if not all – forces."
The Commons Home Affairs Committee chair Dame Diana Johnson told MPs that police sexism is 'institutional'She said: “I think actually we should call this what it is and it’s actually institutional sexism.”
Mr Cooke claimed that although serious issues had been unearthed, they fell short of institutional misogyny.
He said that four in 10 recruits are female and 40% of chief constables are female, saying the service has come on "leaps and bounds".
The watchdog chief said that police chiefs must act fast to improve vetting and try to restore public confidence, telling MPs: "It's important that the country can have confidence and trust in policing once again. It's at the lowest level I can remember as a police officer and that was a 36 year career before I joined the inspectorate."
Mr Cooke was confronted about the low numbers of people charged after rape allegations are reported.
Tory James Daly said: “The major issue regarding matters getting to court is that police officers are not referring allegations of rape to the CPS.
"We have a charge out rate of 1.5%. In my view, I’ve looked for all sorts of reasons for this, there has to be an attitude of misogyny in the police force that is allowing all of these cases not to be prosecuted."
Mr Daly continued: “Let’s be blunt about it, not all of those cases are people lying or not telling the truth it is because police are taking a deliberate attitude to female victims of crimes.”
The inspector admitted that much more needs to be done to address this.
Mr Cooke said: "This is about a very complex issue that policing are doing the best - in my view - to improve. It is not happening quickly enough.”
Rishi Sunak, who met with Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley today, said: "All police forces across the country have been told to check all of their serving officers and staff against national police databases to identify and root out anybody who shouldn't be serving.
"The Government has done a huge amount already to protect the safety of women and girls, but we will keep going and doing whatever it takes to ensure that women and girls feel safe and can go about their lives, freely and without fear."
Yvette Cooper MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, said: “This is the bare minimum and it’s frankly shocking that it doesn’t already happen.
“The government’s response has been completely underwhelming
“Labour has long called for mandatory police vetting and misconduct standards, but the Government has refused to act.
"All we get are warm words from the Home Secretary and Prime Minister while in practice they have walked away from taking national action to improve police standards."
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