Met Police Vetting Failures Expose Serial Rapists

Published: 08 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

A failure in Met Police vetting has allowed serial rapists to remain within the force, shocking Londoners. The internal review revealed that between 2013 and 2023, thousands of officers and staff were recruited without proper background checks, leaving the public at significant risk. More than 5,000 personnel reportedly joined without verified vetting, while pre-employment checks on around 17,000 individuals remain uncertain. This defective vetting enabled dangerous individuals, including David Carrick, to continue operating as police officers, despite serious criminal allegations against them.

The Home Office confirmed that the review uncovered substantial lapses, showing that Met Police vetting had been weakened under pressure to rapidly increase officer numbers. Approximately 1,400 officers who should have been flagged by vetting remained active, granted police powers without sufficient scrutiny. Among them, 131 committed criminal or misconduct offences, ranging from rape to hate crimes, drug offences, and lower-level violations like being intoxicated on duty.

Cliff Mitchell, hired despite an unproven child rape allegation, later faced conviction for ten counts of rape, including assaults on children under thirteen. Carrick, perhaps the most notorious of these failures, was jailed in 2023 for 48 rapes but had initially joined the Met in 2001 after passing standard Met Police vetting. Despite multiple complaints against him, he passed re-vetting in 2017, allowing him to continue his crimes. In total, Carrick was convicted of 85 offences, with dozens occurring after he had cleared vetting procedures.

The report highlighted systemic pressures, particularly during the police uplift programme from 2020 to 2023, which aimed to recruit 20,000 officers to counter prior government cuts. This urgency reportedly contributed to reduced scrutiny, allowing unfit individuals to slip through the recruitment process. The Met’s review concluded that these lapses had directly contributed to public harm and widespread distrust of the police service.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has commissioned HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary to scrutinise the Met’s recruitment and vetting practices. She emphasised that Londoners have the right to expect robust checks so only the most capable and trustworthy individuals police the streets.

Assistant Commissioner Rachel Williams acknowledged the historic shortcomings but stated that significant improvements have since been implemented. Over 1,500 personnel have been ousted under Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley since 2022, reflecting a stricter approach to professional standards. However, some individuals responsible for prior vetting decisions remain employed, prompting ongoing concerns about institutional accountability.

The Met’s internal review noted that five other police forces in England and Wales had also made vetting errors, suggesting that the issue extends beyond London. While some deviations were minor, others directly enabled serious offences, significantly undermining public confidence in policing. The report stressed that the Met had been operating under a “highly pressurised environment,” with leadership unaware that relaxing safeguards could result in harm.

Public reaction has been one of outrage and disbelief, as the details reveal how lapses in vetting permitted dangerous individuals to exploit their authority. Survivors and advocacy groups have called for full transparency and stricter enforcement of vetting procedures nationwide. The Met now faces ongoing scrutiny, with calls for independent audits to ensure lessons are fully implemented.

The report also criticised the speed-driven recruitment policies introduced to meet numerical targets, which inadvertently prioritised quantity over quality. Experts argue that vetting cannot be compromised without risking catastrophic consequences for public safety. Londoners are being reminded of the critical importance of robust background checks and continuous monitoring of officers throughout their careers.

Carrick’s case, alongside Mitchell’s, illustrates the extreme consequences of defective vetting, exposing a culture where oversight was neglected. These failures have prompted broader discussions about accountability, transparency, and the systemic reforms necessary to rebuild trust in the Metropolitan Police Service. The review asserts that preventing similar breaches in the future requires stringent, mandatory vetting protocols and a cultural shift that prioritises ethical standards over administrative expediency.

The internal report further calls for ongoing monitoring and evaluation to ensure that recruitment and retention decisions reflect the highest professional standards. With public confidence shaken, the Met faces the dual challenge of enforcing stricter Met Police vetting while repairing its reputation. Citizens and policymakers alike are demanding swift action to prevent future lapses and ensure that all officers are fit to serve safely and responsibly.

The vetting failures have prompted legal and political debates regarding oversight, as well as the need for independent review boards to strengthen accountability. Londoners now expect a policing system that prioritises safety and integrity, ensuring that the brightest candidates, not criminals, are entrusted with law enforcement duties. The focus remains on restoring trust while implementing measures to prevent such failures from recurring.

The scale of the Met’s errors underscores a warning for law enforcement across the UK: robust Met Police vetting is not optional. While reforms are ongoing, the shadow of past oversights continues to influence public perception. Transparency, accountability, and rigorous scrutiny remain crucial in safeguarding both officers and the communities they serve.

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