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Hundreds of UK police face dismissal amid sexual abuse scandal

London's Metropolitan Police plunged into further crisis after an officer admitted to being a serial rapist while colleagues missed chances to stop him for almost 20 years.

AP

London Commissioner Mark Rowley said that investigations were underway into about 800 officers over 1,000 sexual and domestic abuse claims.

Hundreds of officers in London are facing possible dismissal for sexual and domestic abuse offences, Britain's most senior policeman said, as he sought to regain public trust after an officer admitted being a serial rapist.

London Commissioner Mark Rowley, brought in four months ago to lead the clean-up of the police force, said on Tuesday that investigations were underway into about 800 officers over 1,000 sexual and domestic abuse claims.

Many jobs will be lost as part of the process, he said.

London's Metropolitan Police, which has been rocked by scandals in recent years, was plunged into further crisis after David Carrick, 48, admitted carrying out 24 counts of rape over almost two decades while serving as a police officer, while his colleagues missed chances to stop him.

The case follows a series of revelations of serious wrongdoing at the force, Britain's biggest with more than 43,000 officers and staff and responsibility for leading the country's response to terrorism and issues such as extradition.

"I've got tens of thousands of fantastic men and women, but I've got hundreds who shouldn't be here.

I'm going to sort it out," Rowley told the BBC on Tuesday.

"We're systematically reviewing every member of police staff and police officer who we have any historic flags against, for being involved in incidents involving domestic abuse or sexual violence."

Corruption, racism and misogyny

Public confidence in the Met has been hit by revelations of its culture of corruption, racism and misogyny.

In recent years, one officer was jailed for the rape and murder of a woman he abducted as she walked home and the courts then ruled heavy-handed policing at a vigil in her honour was unlawful.

A serving officer was convicted of being a member of a neo-Nazi group, two more were jailed for sharing pictures from a crime scene after the murder of two sisters, while an inquiry into one unit found discussions about beating women, with one officer messaging a female colleague to say he would rape her.

Interior Minister Suella Braverman told parliament she was encouraged by the Met's action so far.

"There is still some way to go to ensure that the force can command the trust of the people that it serves. It is vital that the Metropolitan Police and other forces double down on their efforts to root out corrupt officers.

This may mean more shocking cases come to light in the short term," she said.

The Met has been the subject of an independent review since 2021, with initial findings concluding "radical" reform was needed in relation to dealing with allegations of misconduct against officers.