NPCC responds to guilty pleas from serving Met officer

National Police Chiefs' Council Chair Martin Hewitt said:

“I am ashamed and disgusted that an individual who swore an oath to protect the public has committed such horrific crimes. It is a very dark day for policing, but I commend the bravery of all the victims, who found the courage to speak out and ensure that David Carrick was brought to justice.

“This is an important moment to reiterate to the public and everyone in policing, if you have any concerns about the behaviour of a serving police officer or staff member, however small, share them. We want to hear any concerns or information that will help us.

"There is extensive action taking place across policing to root out corrupt or criminal individuals, including proactive investigations, changes to vetting and misconduct processes.”

Note to editors:

• The NPCC and College of Policing VAWG framework launched in December 2021 sets out action required from every police force to make women and girls safer.  Priority action is to increase action against perpetrators and challenge sexism and misogyny in policing.
• All police forces have communicated to their staff that there is no place for sexism, misogyny or sexualised behaviour as well as other forms of discrimination or misconduct.  They have reiterated the professional responsibility on each individual to call out, challenge and report behaviour that betrays our professional standards or that concerns them supported by safe processes for reporting inappropriate behaviours, support to those raising concerns and swift interventions where necessary. 
• Chief constables have been reviewing their adherence to the Vetting Code of Practice and Authorised Professional Practice and their capacity and capability to deal with vetting demands including when staff are moving between forces and appropriate periodic checks on vetting.
• His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) inspection published in November 2022 agreed with the majority of vetting decisions made by police forces and found the majority of misconduct investigations were effective.  But they also identified some flawed processes and questionable or wrong decisions, which allow the wrong people to enter or stay in policing and do harm to their colleagues or the public.  Chief constables, supported by national bodies like the NPCC and College of Policing, are acting on these recommendations to put these problems right with urgency, fully and for the long term.
• Chief constables have carried out reviews of all current allegations of sexual misconduct, domestic abuse and other VAWG-related offences against officers and staff, ensuring that they are being investigated fully and quickly.   
• NPCC has called on all chief constables to take every possible step to root out those who do not uphold our standards including:
  • Chairing accelerated hearings wherever the grounds are met, to swiftly determine the facts, to exonerate the innocent, but to remove those guilty of misconduct from the service.
  • Making submissions to the chairs of those independent panels, wherever appropriate, so that sanctions always meet the gravity of an offence.
  • Seeking judicial review when a decision has been made to retain someone in the service who we believe undermines our culture and the standards that the public rightly expect of us.
  • Being as open and transparent about misconduct proceedings as possible.
• Chief Constables are implementing new guidance from the College of Policing which strengthens the guidance for misconduct decision makers on removing those who betray police values and treating any misconduct related violence against women and girls or discrimination severely.  
• Various actions are being taken by chief constables and national bodies in response to recommendations from the College of Policing, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary & Fire and Rescue Services and the Independent Office for Police Conduct report on the Centre for Women’s Justice super complaint into police perpetrated domestic abuse and NPCC and College of Policing review of themes, learnings and recommendations on police-perpetrated violence against women and girls.