Met Police Sergeant Cleared Over David Carrick Investigation Failures
A Metropolitan Police sergeant has been cleared of misconduct allegations related to the investigation of serial rapist David Carrick, with senior officers acknowledging widespread organisational failures rather than individual blame.
Investigation Oversight and Systemic Issues
Detective Sergeant Ray Mackennon oversaw the initial investigation into David Carrick, the former armed officer now serving 36 life sentences for 71 crimes including rape and sexual assault against twelve women. A five-day misconduct hearing revealed that DS Mackennon gave Carrick a lift home from Stevenage police station in July 2021 after a woman reported being raped by him.
The detective also instructed his investigating officer at the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection branch to file a 'streamlined' outcome report that presumed Carrick had 'no case to answer'. However, the misconduct panel cleared DS Mackennon of failing to ensure proper investigation of the allegations.
Organisational Failures Acknowledged
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Andy Valentine stated: 'Our failings in Carrick's case demonstrate the weakness of our organisational approach at the time to pursuing predatory police offenders. We should have done all we could to support the victim-survivors by taking a far more proactive, intrusive and joined-up approach to examining the allegations against Carrick.'
He added: 'We deeply regret that we did not, and our approach did not meet the standard we would expect today.' The force has since implemented measures including better training, increased staffing, and a dedicated domestic abuse and sexual offences investigation team.
Chronic Resource Shortages Revealed
Testimony from colleagues described a chronically under-resourced environment at the Directorate of Professional Standards, which handles misconduct investigations. A witness known only as Officer B told the panel: 'At the time, this was prior to the murder of Sarah Everard, the DPS had not been properly resourced, and we had very high turnover of officers.'
Only one member of the DPS had more than a year's experience at the time, contributing to significant case backlogs. Officer B explained that the 'streamlined' reporting system was introduced to address excessively lengthy reports rather than to dismiss cases improperly.
Carrick's Crimes and Investigation Background
David Carrick was arrested in July 2021 after a woman reported multiple rapes and misogynistic messages sent to her partner. The investigation revealed that key evidence, including the woman's interview and text exchanges, was never reviewed by the investigations team.
Kevin Saunders, representing the Met, stated the accusations represented a 'grave dereliction of duty' and suggested failures may have involved unconscious or conscious bias regarding the victim's sex or race. Carrick pleaded guilty to 71 sexual offences in 2022 and 2023, including 48 rapes against 12 women over 17 years.
Welfare Concerns and Professional Testimony
DS Mackennon testified that his concern as a 'welfare officer' was to get Carrick home safely when providing the lift, insisting they did not discuss the allegations during the journey. Officer B described DS Mackennon as 'one of the most professional and hardworking officers' he had worked with, noting no evidence of discrimination based on sex or race.
The witness explained there were additional 'fail-safes' in place, with outcome decisions made by a separate group of senior officers. 'It was almost guesswork whether the AA Cell would approve a case or return it for further work,' Officer B stated.
Broader Implications and Conclusion
Carrick's crimes, committed while serving as a firearms officer, have triggered multiple reviews into policing standards and vetting procedures. Despite numerous complaints and warning signs over years, he remained in the force, raising serious questions about systemic failures.
Amanda Rowe, IOPC director, confirmed: 'Today's decision brings to an end all of the proceedings relating to our investigations into the way the police handled allegations about David Carrick.' The earliest date Carrick can apply for release is 2054.
