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HUNDREDS of people have joined the police force in the last three years who should not have been allowed in, an inspector warned today.
Speaking to Sophie Ridge on Sky News, HM Inspector of Constabulary Matt Parr said that many officers had failed to declare “big red flags” such as “prior convictions,” “links with criminals that are too close and not explained” and “not being entirely honest on their application.”
The warning came as former PC and serial rapist David Carrick will be appearing in Southwark Crown Court from today for sentencing for the 49 charges against him.
After the scale of his crimes emerged last month, the Home Office ordered a major review of the police disciplinary process to ensure officers who “are not fit to serve the public” and “fall short of the high standards expected” can be sacked.
Vetting procedures are also to be strengthened and all officers checked against national police databases.
But complaints were made about his behaviour before he joined the force in 2001, then again as a probationer in 2002 and numerous times throughout his policing career until 2021.
Mr Parr said: “There should be measures put in place to monitor these people to keep a close eye on them, and that just is not happening.
“This is systemic across policing.”
He said that one in 10 of the officers his team looked at should never have made it through vetting, saying that it “adds up to hundreds of people who have joined the police in the last three years that we don’t think should have.”
Mr Parr said most, if not all, serving female police officers have had to endure sexual assault and inappropriate behaviour from fellow officers.
He said: “The culture of misogyny within policing is something that is there, it’s real and it has absolutely got to be dealt with.”
Darciane Nunes Da Silva, the first victim of Mr Carrick, spoke out about her abuse yesterday, calling for a 40-year jail sentence.
“I think that would be fair because I know some of his victims lost 20 years because of what he did,” she said.
“He needs to be punished. I don’t believe he can ever change and I worry that if he gets out he will hurt someone else.”
Protesters will gather outside the court in London today from 9am.
