Mayor's statement on sentencing of David Carrick
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “My thoughts are with Carrick’s victims today. I want to pay tribute to their bravery and courage. By coming forward they have helped to protect the public and rid the Met Police of a dangerous and prolific offender who abused his position as a police officer in the worst possible way.
“This should never have been allowed to happen and must never happen again. There can be no hiding place for those who abuse their position of trust and authority within the police. I want to reassure the public and all the brave officers and staff who want to speak out that under the new Commissioner any allegation of misconduct will be taken seriously and handled sensitively. I urge people to come forward to report any unacceptable behaviour.
“I support the renewed action being taken by the Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley to review past misconduct cases and I welcome the widening of the Angiolini Inquiry to consider Carrick’s crimes and look at vetting and recruitment procedures and the extent of misogynistic culture in policing.
“I’ll continue to support and hold the Met to account to ensure we root out all those who are unfit to serve as police officers and deliver the urgent reforms and step change in culture and performance required. As mayor, I will not be satisfied until Londoners have the police service they deserve.”
Notes to editors
Notes to editors:
- Work to reform the culture and standards of the Met has already started with Baroness Louise Casey’s interim review now complete and new anonymous Anti-Corruption and Abuse Hotline’ and anti-corruption team recently established by Sir Mark Rowley. But more can and must be done - including acting on the findings of the forthcoming Angiolini Inquiry - and the Mayor will continue to hold the Met to account as they work to implement the reforms needed.
- The Met has launched a hotline to report corrupt and abusive police officers and staff. The launch is part of a wider programme led by the Anti-Corruption and Abuse Command to expose those who have undermined the Met’s integrity, letting Londoners down as well as the decent, honest majority of officers and staff in the Met who want to do a good job. If you have information about a police officer or member of staff who works for the Met and is corrupt, abusing their position and power, please call the hotline on anonymously on 0800 085 0000.
- The Mayor fully supports the Commissioner’s calls for the Home Secretary to urgently reform police regulations governing misconduct to help raise standards in the police. This is long overdue and the Mayor urges the Government to conclude their ongoing review of police dismissals quickly to ensure that the system is changed so it’s more effective in removing officers whose behaviour is demonstrably criminal or whose actions fall well short of the standards expected by policing and the public.