The government will do whatever it takes to root out misogyny and
predatory behaviour from the ranks of the police.
In the wake of the appalling crimes committed by David Carrick
and acknowledged failures within the Metropolitan Police that
allowed such a despicable criminal to serve the public, the
government – working with police chiefs across the country – is
taking immediate action to ensure that the system is effective at
removing officers who are simply not fit to wear the uniform.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council has confirmed that it will
ask all police forces to check their officers and staff against
national police databases. This will help identify anyone who has
slipped through the net before vetting standards were toughened
and ensure those who are unfit to serve can be rooted out.
The Home Secretary has also asked the College of Policing to
strengthen the statutory code of practice for police vetting,
making the obligations all forces must legally follow stricter
and clearer. This will make a raft of guidance a legal
requirement for all police forces.
Home Secretary said:
David Carrick’s sickening crimes are a stain on the police and he
should never have been allowed to remain as an officer for so
long.
We are taking immediate steps to ensure predatory individuals are
not only rooted out of the force, but that vetting and standards
are strengthened to ensure they cannot join the police in the
first place.
Every day thousands of decent, hardworking police officers
perform their duties with the utmost professionalism and I am
sure they all share my disgust at his despicable betrayal of
everything they stand for.
The government has also brought forward the second part of the
Angiolini Inquiry, the terms of reference of which will be
published today for consultation, to identify and address any
systemic issues with policing. This will:
- ask whether processes around recruitment and vetting do
enough to identify those who are not fit to serve
- investigate the extent to which misogynistic and predatory
behaviour exists in police culture
- look at whether current measures do enough to keep women safe
in public spaces and manage risks posed by perpetrators
The Angiolini Inquiry was established in the wake of the murder
of Sarah Everard to understand how a serving police officer was
able to carry out such a horrendous crime. The Home Secretary
confirmed yesterday that Lady Angiolini will also look at the
specifics surrounding the David Carrick case as part of her
inquiry.
The government has also commissioned His Majesty’s Inspectorate
of Constabulary, Fire and Rescue Services to conduct a rapid
review of all forces’ response to the inspectorate’s recent
report into vetting and counter-corruption. This will make sure
chief officers are taking the necessary action to remove those
who are not fit to serve.
The Home Secretary has also launched an internal review into
police dismissals to make sure the system is effective at
removing officers who fall short of the standards expected of
them.
The Prime Minister will meet with Met Commissioner Mark Rowley
later on today to make clear we must work together to root out
the misogyny and predatory behaviour within the police’s ranks to
restore public confidence.
