A catastrophic failure in police vetting allowed serial rapists and other criminals to join and remain within the ranks of the Metropolitan Police, a devastating internal review has concluded.
The force estimated that more than 5,000 officers and staff were recruited between 2013 and 2023 without the proper background checks. Furthermore, it cannot confirm whether pre-employment checks were completed for approximately 17,000 individuals.
Systemic Failures and Criminal Consequences
The review, commissioned after a series of high-profile scandals, found that 1,400 officers who should have been flagged by vetting procedures were left in the force with full police powers. This systemic breakdown led directly to grievous harm.
Investigators uncovered evidence that 131 officers committed criminal or misconduct offences. These ranged from the most severe crimes, including rape and hate crimes, to offences like drug possession and being intoxicated while on duty.
Among those who slipped through the net was Cliff Mitchell, who was hired despite an unresolved child rape allegation. He was later convicted of ten counts of rape, including three against a child under 13.
The Case of David Carrick and a Culture of Pressure
The most notorious case is that of David Carrick, one of Britain's most prolific sex offenders. Carrick, who joined the Met in 2001, was convicted in 2023 of 48 rapes and a total of 85 serious offences.
Despite a series of complaints against him, he passed re-vetting in 2017 and was allowed to keep his job and his firearm. Dozens of his crimes were committed after he passed this re-vetting process.
The report blames a "highly pressurised environment" for the failings, where bosses prioritised rapid recruitment over robust safeguards. This was particularly acute during the national Police Uplift Programme (2020-2023), which aimed to recruit 20,000 new officers.
Political Fallout and a Pledge to Reform
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood condemned the findings, stating: "Abandoning vetting checks on officers was a dereliction of the Met's duty to keep London safe. Londoners rightly expect officers to undergo robust checks so that the brightest and best – not criminals – are policing our streets."
She has commissioned His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary to conduct a full inspection of the Met's recruitment and vetting practices.
Met Assistant Commissioner Rachel Williams acknowledged the force's "previous shortcomings" but insisted standards are now much higher. She stated that the Met identified the issues itself and has acted, with 1,500 officers removed since Sir Mark Rowley became Commissioner in 2022.
The report concluded that these failures contributed directly to "police-perpetrated harm and public distrust". It also noted that five other police forces in England and Wales were found to have made similar vetting errors.
