25 January 2023 , 19:00
1038
0
The head of the police unit that cleared serial rapist PC David Carrick after failing to consider shocking allegations about his past went on to land a top job.
Paul Betts led the Met’s “Line of Duty” department when it found armed officer Carrick had “no case to answer” for misconduct five months after Sarah Everard’s murder by another officer.
Carrick had been arrested on suspicion of rape but anti-corruption detectives failed to check his history, including allegations of assault, harassment, domestic violence and burglary.
Then-Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick that month promised to do “everything in my power to ensure we learn any lessons” from Sarah’s murder. But she let Mr Betts’ Department of Professional Standards investigate themselves over the botched probe into Carrick, raising conflict of interest concerns.
The DPS found none of their own should face misconduct proceedings after Carrick was finally stopped by Hertfordshire Police when he was charged with rape in October 2021.
Man in 30s dies after being stabbed in park sparking police probe
Metropolitan Police Constable David Carrick admitted dozens of rape and sexual offences against 12 women. (REX/Shutterstock)A week later, the DPS referred two retired local officers to the Independent Office for Police Conduct over a 2002 complaint.
However, the department reportedly failed to treat a 2019 incident, when Carrick allegedly grabbed a woman by the neck, as sackable.
Officers did not check the PC’s history when they assessed the case as “less serious” and sent it to be investigated locally.
The DPS again failed to look at Carrick’s record when they cleared him to return to work in September 2021 following the rape claim.
A Scotland Yard spokesman would not comment on whether this was dealt with by the central DPS unit, which oversees more serious cases, or was again sent to the local unit.
David Carrick sent a woman photos of himself posing with a police firearm (SWNS)It is understood it found concerns over processes followed in 2019 and 2021, rather than the actions of individual officers.
Mr Betts, who joined from Sussex Police in 2020, became Assistant Commissioner of City of London Police in January last year.
Met Assistant Commissioner Barbara Gray said the DPS had dealt with incidents individually rather than spotting an “escalating pattern” of abuse. She could not say why it decided Carrick had “no case to answer” for misconduct.
Carrick was last week convicted of 49 offences, including 24 rapes, perpetrating against 12 women during his Metropolitan Police career.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley appearing before the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee (PA)He had come to the attention of police in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2009, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2021.
Russian model killed after calling Putin a 'psychopath' was strangled by her ex
The Met said: “The Met is absolutely committed to being as transparent as possible about the Carrick case.”
City of London Police said it is a matter for the Met.
Harriet Wistrich, founder of the Centre for Women’s Justice, said: “Their failure to look at previous allegations against Carrick is a big part of the story as to why this dangerous perpetrator remained in the police for so long.”