Four police officers and a police staff member will face disciplinary proceedings over alleged failures to investigate complaints against a colleague, who was later convicted of serial rape.

Former Metropolitan Police officer David Carrick, who lived in Stevenage, was handed 36 life sentences in February last year, after attacking dozens of women over a 17-year period.

Carrick had pleaded guilty to 49 offences, including rape, sexual assault and falsely imprisoning women, which took place between 2003 and 2020.

In July last year, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) launched four investigations into what actions the Met Police took after four reports of serious offending were made against Carrick between 2002 and 2021, while he was a serving Met officer.  

The IOPC has now ruled that a detective sergeant should face a gross misconduct hearing, and a further three officers and a staff member should face misconduct meetings for alleged breaches of the police standards of professional behaviour, all relating to failing to progress misconduct investigations against Carrick. 

Those facing disciplinary proceedings all worked in the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) at the time.

A report of assault and harassment was made against Carrick in 2002. Carrick was spoken to by his line manager, but no referral was made to the DPS.

The IOPC concluded that two officers who were inspectors at the time would have had to face a misconduct meeting, had they not already retired.

In 2016, a report of assault and harassment was made against Carrick. No further action was taken, but the Met’s DPS was made aware of the allegations.

The IOPC concluded that two officers should face misconduct meetings for failing to adequately investigate potential misconduct.

In 2019, a report of assault was made. No further action was taken, but the Met’s DPS was made aware of the allegation.

The IOPC decided that two chief inspectors should be subject to the 'reflective practice review process' relating to their failures to investigate the allegations as potential misconduct.

In 2021, a report of rape and sexual assault was made against Carrick. The criminal case was closed, and an internal investigation by the Met found there was not enough evidence to prove misconduct, and so Carrick had no case to answer.

The IOPC has said that a detective sergeant should face a gross misconduct hearing for allegedly failing to supervise that investigation properly, and a detective constable and a police staff member should face misconduct meetings.

IOPC regional director Mel Palmer said: "Our thoughts continue to be with all of the women who were victims of this serial predator.   

“Our investigations into alleged failures to investigate reports made against David Carrick were comprehensive and identified several missed opportunities to pursue misconduct investigations against him.   

"In all cases, we identified that officers failed to properly explore, investigate or oversee the misconduct investigations against Carrick, who never faced any disciplinary proceedings despite being the subject of serious criminal allegations on multiple occasions. 

"Had these matters been progressed appropriately, Carrick may have potentially faced gross misconduct proceedings and been dismissed from the force well before he was eventually arrested."