A Metropolitan Police officer drove convicted rapist David Carrick home after his initial arrest in October 2021, the BBC has revealed, raising fresh questions about the force's handling of serious allegations against its own personnel.
The detail emerged as scrutiny intensifies over how the Met dealt with Carrick, who was sentenced to 32 life sentences earlier this year after admitting 71 sexual offences against 12 women over two decades, including 24 rapes.
Carrick, an armed officer with the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command, was bailed following his October 2021 arrest and went on to commit further sexual offences before being charged. The decision to allow a colleague to drive him home contradicts typical protocols for officers accused of serious crimes, who would normally be subject to strict conditions and formal transport arrangements.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating the Metropolitan Police's response to 13 separate allegations against Carrick between 2000 and 2021, including nine incidents of rape or sexual assault. The transport arrangement is expected to feature in the ongoing inquiry examining where systems failed.
The revelation adds to mounting pressure on the Met following a series of scandals that have severely damaged public trust. The force faces intense scrutiny over its culture and vetting procedures, with reports highlighting widespread misogyny, racism and homophobia within its ranks. Carrick's case has become emblematic of these broader institutional failures, with victims and campaigners demanding fundamental reform of how the force polices itself.